Ng, who has smoked for 14 years, said she would have “no idea what to do” if the ban came into effect, but she said she did not want to give up the habit.

She preferred flavoured products as they refreshed her and carried less odour than regular cigarettes, adding that many of her friends felt the same.

“Not many people like non-flavoured cigarettes because they are not effective in boosting people’s mood,” she said. “It is unfair to only ban some kinds of the products.”

She also argued the ban would only be effective if smokers were unable to obtain their products from illegal channels, she added.

Also among the crowd was 30-year-old Alex*, a food industry worker who was enjoying a honeydew-flavoured cigarette.

“Those who smoke flavoured cigarettes are likely to be younger, while older people choose non-flavoured ones,” he said, adding that he had been smoking for eight years. “If the ban is implemented, I may purchase my products from other channels.”

The Health Bureau on Thursday said data showed flavoured cigarettes were more popular with younger smokers and female ones, with many choosing them when trying out the habit for the first time.

Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau said additives in flavoured cigarettes were used to “sugar coat a toxic product” as they could hide the “irritating” smell and mask the harmful effects of smoking.

The Post observed that at least half of cigarettes available at convenience stores came in flavours such as menthol, apple and honeydew.

Lam Cheung-fu, chairman of the Hong Kong Newspaper Vendors Association, said the ban would only benefit sellers of illicit cigarettes as smokers might simply resort to the black market.

Authorities also aim to outlaw personal possession of alternative tobacco products such as e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products, in addition to the ban on the import, promotion, manufacturing, sale or possession for commercial purposes imposed in 2022.

Jason*, a 25-year-old finance worker, said he switched to e-cigarettes, which had less odour, three years ago after smoking traditional ones for 10 years.

He said he started smoking due to peer influence and continued the habit as he felt no urgency to quit.

“I will not quit smoking if the ban is enacted,” he said. “I will only use other methods or smoking in areas where there are less people.”

Felix*, 25, who worked in the catering industry, said the ban would be difficult for him and he might consider leaving Hong Kong.

“Many people opt for electronic cigarettes because they would like to quit traditional cigarettes,” he said.

He said prior to switching to e-cigarettes three years ago, he smoked conventional ones for seven years.

Retail sector lawmaker Peter Shiu Ka-fai argued banning flavoured cigarettes could reduce Hong Kong’s attractiveness to tourists and business travellers.

But Deputy Secretary for Health Eddie Lee Lik-kong said he believed visiting the city was a diverse, “multifaceted” experience that would not be tainted solely because of its smoking regulations, adding visitors might want “a Hong Kong with fresh air”.

But authorities would need to be transparent and post advertisements at immigration ports to inform visitors of the city’s rules on smoking, he added.

Allan Zeman, the chairman of Lan Kwai Fong Group, said he was not worried that the new rules would affect tourists’ impressions of Hong Kong.

“When you travel to a [place], everyone has different regulations, and it’s up to the traveller to obey the regulations, and if not, then don’t go to that city,” he said. “It’s your prerogative, nobody’s forcing you to come to Hong Kong, so I think that’s not a problem.”

*Names changed at interviewees’ request.

Additional reporting by Wynna Wong