John Lee says ban on single-use plastic items won’t impact citizens’ lives

Chief executive John Lee Ka-chiu said he holds a positive attitude to the general development of the first phase of the ban on single-use plastic items, which came into effect on Monday, as he believes that the policy won’t have a huge impact on citizens’ daily lives. 

Speaking to the media on Tuesday, Lee said promoting environmental friendly concepts will definitely need citizens to adapt to some behavior changes and stressed that protecting the environment is everyone’s duty. 

Lee noted that a large number of restaurants and hotels have detailed plans to implement the policy and the Environmental Protection Department also has a platform that provides up to some 700 replacements for the single-use plastic items. 

The government also cares greatly about the supply of the replacements being sufficient and affordable, he said. 

Lee believes that merchants can “take care” of the price difference during the course of business, saying that replacement cutlery is valued at up to 20 to 30 HK cents a piece. 

Still, the government will continue to listen to public opinions and provide more options to suppliers and citizens, Lee added. He also has faith that the quality of the replacements will be more satisfactory as the market evolves. 

Separately, Institute of Dining Professionals honorary president Kelvin Yau Kam-wing pointed out that the prices of disposable plastic and bamboo bowls of 500 pieces are HK$252 and HK$520, marking a 51 percent difference. 

The price of disposable bamboo cutlery packs are also 26 percent pricier than that made out of plastic, Yau added. 

On a radio program on Tuesday, Yau said his restaurant has been charging customers HK$1 for the take-out cutlery packs and he observed a growing number of customers who refused the takeout cutlery yesterday. 

He believes the public will need some more time to adapt to the first phase of the ban and manufacturers and suppliers will improve the quality of replacement cutlery. Unsatisfactory products will ultimately be phased out by the market, he noted.