Plastic bag levy up to $1

The plastic bag levy will increase to HK$1 from December 31 after lawmakers in the Legislative Council approved the government's proposal to raise it from 50 cents.

But a proposal by Tony Tse Wai-chuen, lawmaker of the architectural, surveying, planning and landscape sector, to increase the plastic bag levy to HK$2 was rejected yesterday.

Tse said raising the levy to HK$2 would reduce the use of plastic bag by 40 percent while a levy of HK$1 would reduce it only by 25 percent.

He said his proposal was welcomed by citizens and environment groups, and should it be passed in the Legislative Council, the government would be pleased to accept.

But 78 of 82 lawmakers approved raising it from 50 cents to a dollar.

Elizabeth Quat Pui-fan, of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, said she supports the government's proposal as she does not want to impose too much pressure on the grassroots amid the unfavorable economic environment.

Environment group Greeners Action slammed the government's decision as neglecting public opinion.

"In our survey conducted in June, 75 percent of respondents said they supported raising the levy to HK$2, while only 24 percent of them supported a levy of HK$1," the group said.

"The government knows that a levy of HK$2 could better reduce plastic bag use but chooses to stick to the minimum level proposed by the Council for Sustainable Development at HK$1, which is too conservative, showing that the government does not dare to shoulder responsibilities, and its waste reduction goal would end in vain," it said.

Meanwhile, the government plans to ban plastic disposable tableware next year.

Speaking on a radio program yesterday, the chairman of the Institute of Dining Professionals, Raymond Chui Man-wai, said the supply chain and technology of disposable tableware substitutes are insufficient, and the ban may affect the industry in costs and operation.

"Most suppliers of the substitutes are not in Hong Kong and, as for technology, bowl caps made of other materials cannot seal the bowl as well as plastic ones," he said.

"I hope the government could introduce more recyclable tableware suppliers to Hong Kong and spare more funding to develop the recyclable tableware technology," Chui added.

"I also hope the government can provide us with clearer guidance, even establish a list of suppliers whose products are acceptable.

"Owners of small businesses may not be able to understand the legal documents or determine what tableware is legal and breach the law unintentionally."

He said the government has yet to release the contents of the ordinance.

The new rule may cause a cost increase of more than 10 times.

"Plastic meal boxes or bowls normally cost within HK$2, but it would not be rare for a recyclable meal box to cost HK$10," Chui said.