Tobacco giant Philip Morris warns it may close HK$78 million Hong Kong research centre in light of government proposal to ban e-cigarettes and other new smoking products

A multinational tobacco company that spent tens of millions of dollars on opening a research centre for new smoking products in Hong Kong said it may have to close it, putting dozens of jobs at risk, after a government U-turn to ban e-cigarettes.Tobacco giant Philip Morris invested more than HK$78 million (US$10 million) in the Wong Chuk Hang facility, which opened in July last year, after the previous administration laid out proposals to regulate new smoking products.But in October, Chief…