Streaming site pulls Chainsmoker Cat series in Hong Kong over breach of ad rules

A Taiwan-based streaming platform, Animation Crazy, has withdrawn the Japanese anime series Chainsmoker Cat from Hong Kong viewers due to a violation of the city's prohibition on online smoking advertisements. The streaming platform, launched by Bahamut, a Taiwanese internet forum and news website, notified Hong Kong's Department of Health on Monday about the issue.

The show's content was found to contravene the Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance, as per the department's statement. "We will suspend the broadcast of Chainsmoker Cat in the Hong Kong region immediately to comply with local regulations and the requirements of Hong Kong’s Department of Health," the platform stated in a social media post.

The platform expressed regret and apologized to its Hong Kong users. Under the ordinance, offenders face a HK$50,000 fine upon summary conviction and an additional HK$1,500 fine for each day the offense continues. Hong Kong users have the option to request a refund. Chainsmoker Cat follows the story of Yaniko Sato, a character battling smoking addiction.

The manga was serialized in Japan in 2023, and the anime TV series debuted in July of this year. Currently, the series is no longer accessible on Animation Crazy in Hong Kong when searched on the streamer's website on Monday afternoon. However, the show remains available on the US-based streaming platform Netflix. The South China Morning Post has contacted the department and Netflix for their comments.