The Secretary for Food and Health, Sophia Chan, does not believe e-cigs users will move on to cigarettes because of the ban.
The Secretary for Food and Health, Sophia Chan, today played down fears that a ban on e-cigarettes could tempt people using them on to traditional tobacco products instead.
Chan said the people who raise such fears do not have evidence to back up the claim, RTHK reports.
Chan said that whenever a new anti-smoking policy was introduced in the past, many people quit smoking. But she did not offer any data on those who quit.
Chan said the proposal to ban e-cigarettes was made after data from surveys conducted in recent months found that many local children favor the products.
She stressed that e-cigarettes have been branded as less harmful to attract young smokers.
The original plan was to prohibit the sale of e-cigarettes to minors, but Chief Executive Carrie Lam proposed an outright ban on importing, selling and promoting such products during her Policy Address.
The ban was supported by many in the medical and education sectors.