HK is not ready so we're wasting our energy on rubbish scheme: politician

Wallis Wang

Pro-Beijing heavyweight Lo Man-tuen has urged the government to abandon the waste-charging scheme and prioritize economic development instead.

Lo argued that the scheme is being pushed by radical opposition parties and that the trial run revealing lower participation rates indicates that Hong Kong is not prepared for the scheme.

Lo, former vice chairman of All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese, expressed concern in a newspaper article that the controversies surrounding the scheme would overshadow the city's overall development and advocated resolving disputes.

He said the city needs to focus on the interests and expectations of society, as well as the government's development efforts.

Lo believes the waste-charging scheme, initially proposed by the previous government under pressure from politically motivated environmental protection ideas, was an unrealistic and unattainable task.

"I suggest the government reconsider whether to postpone or halt the scheme after the trial period, and the most important thing now is to stop the disputes on the scheme," Lo said.

"It's not in line with the society's interests and expectations to let the controversies waste our energy and interfere with the government's development efforts. I believe it is not what the central government wants to see."

Steven Ho Chun-yin, a member of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, admitted feeling pressured before by opposition forces within the legislature into supporting the scheme.

"The opposition camp used environmental protection as a reason and forced the government, lawmakers, and citizens to accept a policy that we are not ready for," Ho said.

He urged the government to implement the policy once the city is ready.

Aron Kwok Wai-keung, a lawmaker from the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions, cautioned against premature condemnation, suggesting that participation in the trial run may increase over time.

Kwok proposes a six-month grace period following the scheme's implementation, during which free designated garbage bags would be distributed to foster waste reduction.

Angus Ho Hon-wai, the executive director of Greeners Action, supports the scheme.

He argues that "many previously silent citizens do not oppose the scheme and believe that waste recycling, environmental protection, and waste sorting are manageable."

wallis.wang@singtaonewscorp.com