A total of 18 verbal warnings have been issued to retailers in the first eight days after plastic shopping bag charging was fully implemented, Secretary for the Environment KS Wong said today.
He told reporters the warnings mainly concerned providing free plastic bags for food already in sealed packaging, or for non-foodstuffs.
In one case, a shopkeeper mistakenly believed that the bags provided were not made of plastic. In another case, a shop was giving customers a rebate for the cost of the bag.
Mr Wong said the one-month grace period should be enough for people to become familiar with the new law and reminded the public that after this month, there will be no more verbal warnings and a fixed penalty ticket of $2,000 will be issued.
Noting that some shops are charging more for plastic bags than the law required, Mr Wong considered this to be acceptable as long as it is clear to the customers and in line with green policies.
