Hong Kong to consider whether eco-friendly utensils supply is enough before next year’s second phase of single-use plastics ban: John Lee
- City leader John Lee says he is glad residents started bringing own utensils after ban’s first stage came into force last week
- ‘We will observe how residents have adapted to the first phase of the plastic ban and the supply of alternatives before making our next step,’ he adds
Hong Kong will consider whether the supply of eco-friendly utensils is sufficient, as well as their price levels before rolling out the second stage of a ban on single-use plastics, the city leader has said.
Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu also said on Tuesday he was glad that residents had changed their behaviour by bringing their own utensils since the first phase of the ban came into force “in a stable and orderly manner” last Monday.
Under the first phase, styrofoam products and throwaway plastic utensils, such as cutlery and straws, were prohibited for takeaway purchases. Single-use plastic tableware was no longer available to patrons dining in.
But some consumers were left confused over which containers should be used for pre-packaged sushi at supermarkets and whether they could dine in at convenience stores amid the inconsistent application of the ban.
Asked whether the government would postpone the implementation of the ban’s second phase set for next year, Lee said his administration would closely monitor the situation.
“We will observe how residents have adapted to the first phase of the plastic ban and the supply of alternatives before making our next step,” Lee said ahead of his weekly meeting with his advisers in the Executive Council.
“We have to consider whether there is a sufficient supply of these alternatives and their prices to see if they are at a level that residents would accept. We will implement it stably.”
The second phase of the policy is expected to launch next year and will ban plastic tableware for takeaway, plastic table coverings, gloves and floss sticks, among other items.
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Lee said he understood members of the public would like to have a more clear interpretation of the law, adding that the secretary for environment and ecology already repeatedly explained the new policy and would continue to do so.
Asked whether he was still confident, in light of the recent plastics ban hiccups, in pushing ahead with a twice-postponed waste-charging scheme scheduled for August, Lee reiterated the government would study the response from an ongoing one-month dry-run, which involved 14 premises.
“[It is] a policy that affects each and every citizen of our almost 7.5 million population. It is a serious matter that needs to be examined,” he said. “So while we want to ensure that our environment is well-protected, we also want to proceed steadily so that people will be able to change their behaviour in a steady manner.”
He said the government would make a call after reviewing the overall implementation details in the trial run and examining the views expressed by residents. “When we come to that stage, we will inform the public as soon as possible.”
Several political parties have renewed their calls to postpone the controversial scheme by “at least a year” to allow for enough recycling facilities to be set up around the city.
Hong Kong government-commissioned suppliers earlier halted production of special rubbish bags for the waste-charging scheme after they built up a stockpile big enough to last two months, sparking speculation that authorities were paving the way for a further delay.
The pay-as-you-throw waste scheme, which was pushed back from April to August, was designed to provide incentives for the public to become more aware of waste-disposal volumes by requiring them to buy special bags produced in a variety of sizes.
