Alcohol Consumption

While social drinking is acceptable, we strongly discourage excessive drinking to the point where it impairs your judgment.

The legal drinking age in Hong Kong is 18. Premises serving alcohol may perform ID checks. In such cases, you will have to provide a government-issued identity card stating clearly your date of birth, such as your passport or HKID.

Smoking

Smoking is hazardous to your health. Hong Kong law prohibits smoking in most enclosed areas, including restaurants, karaoke boxes, malls and some bars; as well as in most public outdoor areas, including public beaches, swimming pools, transport interchanges, escalators and university campuses. As such, HKUST is a non-smoking campus.

Any person who smokes or carries a lighted tobacco product in a statutory non-smoking area will be fined up to HK$1,500.

More information on the policy of non-smoking campus is available here.

Narcotics

Hong Kong laws regarding the enforcement and penalties for narcotics may be different from that of other countries. You should pay attention to these. In Hong Kong, the below are considered offences and are liable for conviction:

• Trafficking a dangerous drug (includes selling or distributing a drug)
• Manufacturing a dangerous drug
• In possession of, or smoking, inhaling, ingesting or injecting a dangerous drug
• In possession of any pipe, equipment or appartus fit and intended for smoking, inhaling, ingesting or injecting a dangerous drug
• Cultivating any plant of the genus cannabis or opium poppy