The Department of Health warns that smoking cigarettes containing low tar and nicotine can still be harmful, adding that quitting smoking is the best way to protect health.

A test on 93 cigarette brands last year found that their average tar and nicotine yields were 8.9 milligrams and 0.77 milligrams per cigarette (mg/cig), down 0.2 mg/cig and up 0.01 mg/cig respectively on 2005's findings.

The department said when smokers choose low tar cigarettes instead of middle or high-tar groups, they may take larger and more frequent puffs or even smoke more cigarettes each day.