Hongkongers have to dig deep into their pockets this year as charges for electricity, water, parking, electric-vehicle charging and domestic waste are all set to rise.
Despite both power companies reducing their tariffs, the fuel charge is being adjusted on a monthly basis. The charge of Hongkong Electric increased by nearly 3 percent last month, while CLP was slightly cheaper than it was the month before.
"Electricity rates have gone up, but our salary has not," a resident named Ng said. "The economy has not been good but all the bills have gone up, it's very stressful."
Dongjiang water saw its price surge by 2.39 percent year on year, and its annual price is expected to exceed HK$5.1 billion this year.
The administration is mulling over adjusting the water price, with the review to be completed in the first half of 2024.
The Housing Authority raised monthly rents for its car parks, while electric-vehicle users will also have to start paying a charging fee in car parks from now on.
The monthly charge for private cars and light goods vehicles will be increased by HK$120 and HK$140 for open and covered parking spaces, respectively. The hourly rate will be increased by a dollar.
Free e-vehicle charging services at Kwai Fong Car Park and Kennedy Town Car Park ended last week. Drivers will now need to pay HK$19 and HK$21 per hour, respectively.
A charging fee will be implemented progressively for 1,400 EV medium chargers at the remaining 72 government-run parking lots.
From April 1, Hongkongers will have to pay for their domestic garbage, as the municipal solid waste charging scheme will take effect.
They will have to pay for the disposal of their domestic rubbish by buying designated trash bags priced from 30 HK cents to HK$11, which will come in nine sizes ranging from three liters to 100 liters.
Oversized garbage will be affixed with a specified label and a fixed price of HK$11 each.
Authorities have estimated that a family of three to four persons using a 10-liter or 15-liter designated bag daily will have to pay HK$30 to HK$50 a month.
A fixed-penalty ticket of HK$1,500 will be issued to those who fail to use the designated bags. The first six months of implementing the scheme will have a grace period with verbal warnings based on the circumstances.
Authorities will also distribute 20 free designated garbage bags monthly to about 1.05 million households in public rental housing, three-nil buildings and village houses during the six-month period.
Additionally, hiring charges for six wedding venues under the Leisure and Cultural Services Department will increase from February 1.
The first four-hour rates for Repulse Bay Beach, Kowloon Tsai Park, Kowloon Walled City Park, Tai Po Waterfront Park and Sai Kung Waterfront Park wedding venues will be increased by HK$520 to HK$3,490.
The hourly rate at the indoor Assembly Hall at Lei Yue Mun Park in Chai Wan will bump up by HK$500 to HK$3,670.
stacy.shi@singtaonewscorp.com
