Hon Lik facts for kids

Han Li or Hon Lik (Chinese: 韓力; pinyin: Hán Lì; Cantonese Yale: Hon Lik) is a Chinese pharmacist. He is famous for inventing the modern electronic cigarette.

Early Life and Education

Hon Lik was born in Shenyang, China, in 1951. He studied at Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. He earned a degree in pharmacy. In 1982, he joined the Liaoning Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Developing the E-Cigarette

Early Ruyan devices

From 1990 to 1994, Hon Lik worked as a Deputy Director. He was in charge of creating new plant-based medicines. In 2003, he became the Director of Western Technologies Corp.

Hon Lik's main goal was to create a safer way for people to stop smoking. He wanted to help himself and others quit traditional cigarettes.

He filed patents for his invention in China, the United States, and Europe. The first electronic cigarette was made in 2004 in Shenyang, China. It was called "Ruyan." This device used a heating element and a battery to turn liquid into a vapor. This is similar to how e-cigarettes work today.

Business and Future Ideas

Hon Lik helped start a company called Dragonite International Limited. This company focused on health care and electronic cigarettes. He was the Chief Executive Officer for eight years.

In 2007, Golden Dragon Group bought Dragonite. Later, in 2013, Golden Dragon Group sold Hon's e-cigarette invention to Imperial Tobacco. This is a large tobacco company in Britain.

Hon Lik believes that the e-cigarette is a big step forward, like how digital cameras changed photography. He supports more rules for the e-cigarette industry. He thinks big medicine companies and groups like the U.S. Food and Drug Administration should help make sure products are safe.

He is also working on a new product called the "e-hookah." This product is planned for sale in the Middle East and North Africa.