Step closer to plastic-free HK

Restaurants and merchants will be banned from providing and selling foam and single-use plastic tableware from April 22 next year as the Legislative Council yesterday passed the amendment bill aimed at making Hong Kong plastic-free.

The new rules will be implemented in two phases.

The first phase will start on April 22 next year in which merchants will no longer be allowed to sell polystyrene tableware, straws, stirrers, forks, knives, spoons and plates to customers, while restaurants will be banned from providing single-use tableware to customers for dine-in and takeaway.

Also in the first phase, restaurants will be prohibited from giving disposable plastic cups, lids, food containers and covers to diners.

A total ban on the provision of disposable plastic cups and food containers, including for takeaway sales, will be implemented in the second phase in 2025.

Hotels and guesthouses will also be banned from providing in-room plastic-bottled water for free, and disposable toiletries such as plastic-handled toothbrushes, plastic-packed toothpaste, shower caps, razors, nail files, combs as well as shampoo, body wash, conditioners, body lotions, and hand sanitizers packed in disposable plastic containers.

"To allow the trade to get prepared, we will commence the first-phase regulation around six months after the passage of the amendment bill. We propose to implement the first-phase regulation from April 22, 2024, in support of Earth Day," said a spokesman for the Environment and Ecology Bureau.

"The timing of implementing the second-phase regulation will depend on the availability and affordability of the relevant non-plastic or reusable alternatives, and it is tentatively set for 2025.

"We encourage the trade to prepare early for the relevant control measures, and jointly build a plastic-free culture."

sophie.hui@singtaonewscorp.com