Celebrity Caught in Hong Kong’s E-Cigarette Crackdown

Hong Kong singer and actor Hubert Wu (34) has admitted to illegally importing over 100 e-cigarettes and has been fined.

On the 25th (local time), the foreign media outlet China Daily reported that Hubert Wu admitted to illegally importing e-cigarettes and was fined 3,051 ringgit (approximately $780).

The trial took place at the Kowloon City District Court in Hong Kong. Instead of Hubert Wu, his lawyer attended the trial and admitted to the charges of e-cigarette importation. Wu’s side argued that “purchasing e-cigarettes is not illegal in China. The defendant Hubert Wu did not know about the amended law in Hong Kong because he was active in China,” and the court accepted this argument.

Considering Hubert Wu’s cooperation during the e-cigarette investigation and his clean record, the court imposed a fine of $780. He is required to settle the fine within three days.

More than 100 e-cigarettes were found in Hubert Wu’s luggage when he returned to Hong Kong after an event in China last February. Customs officers seized all the discovered e-cigarettes and issued a summons. At the time, Hubert Wu stated, “I was ignorant of the law. I sincerely regret bringing in the e-cigarettes and will not repeat the same mistake.”

Since April 30, 2022, the Hong Kong government has completely banned the import, manufacture, and sale of e-cigarettes.

Meanwhile, Hubert Wu finished as runner-up in the 2010 survival program The Voice 2. After gaining recognition through the program, he released his debut album, Couple Getaway, in 2012 and continued his active career in Chinese-speaking countries.