{
  "id": 1448471,
  "title": "Streaming site pulls Chainsmoker Cat series in Hong Kong over breach of ad rules",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/17/streaming-site-pulls-chainsmoker-cat-series-in-hong-kong-over-breach",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-17T08:01:22.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "South China Morning Post",
    "slug": "south-china-morning-post",
    "url": "https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3364272/streaming-site-pulls-chainsmoker-cat-series-hong-kong-breach-ad-rules"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A popular Japanese anime series called Chainsmoker Cat, produced by Animation Crazy, has been taken off the streaming platform in Hong Kong due to a violation of the city's regulations against online advertising of smoking products. The decision was announced by the platform on Monday following a letter received from Hong Kong's Department of Health. The show's content, which centers around a character with a smoking addiction, contravenes the Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance in Hong Kong. The platform has suspended the broadcast of Chainsmoker Cat in the Hong Kong region as a result. The department has warned that violators can face a fine of HK$50,000 (US$6,370) upon summary conviction and an additional HK$1,500 for each day the offense persists. The platform has offered sincere apologies to its Hong Kong users and provided an option for them to apply for a refund. The series, which features a character named Yaniko Sato, was a Japanese manga serialized in 2023 and an anime TV series that premiered in July. Despite the removal from Animation Crazy in Hong Kong, the show remains accessible on the US-based streaming platform, Netflix. The SCMP has contacted both the department and Netflix for further comment.",
  "summary": "A Taiwan-based streaming platform has removed the Japanese anime series Chainsmoker Cat for Hong Kong audiences because the programme is in breach of the city’s ban on online smoking advertisements. Animation Crazy, a streaming platform launched by Bahamut, a Taiwanese internet forum and news website, said on Monday that it recently received a letter from the Hong Kong’s Department of Health…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "South China Morning Post",
        "title": "Hong Kong inventors win grand prix, 35 medals at Silicon Valley festival",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/17/hong-kong-inventors-win-grand-prix-35-medals-at-silicon-valley",
        "published": "2026-08-17T05:49:01.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}