Secretary for the Environment KS Wong joined representatives of the Inter-departmental Working Group on Clean Shorelines and green groups including Ecovision Asia, Green Council and WWF Hong Kong today to participate in the Shorelines Cleanup Day at Shui Hau on Lantau Island.
They sorted and recorded the types of rubbish collected and found most of it was single-use waste plastic items.
Mr Wong urged people to get into the habit of taking their litter home and avoid using single-use utensils and containers such as plastic bottles, paper containers, and foam plastic lunch boxes.
“The scenic environment, spectacular shorelines and rich marine biodiversity are precious local assets in Hong Kong. We cannot solely rely on the Government's efforts to conserve natural resources. Instead, we need the participation and concrete actions of all members of the community to protect our environment," he said.
According to a study the working group released this April, more than 80% of Hong Kong's marine refuse originates from land-based sources, with shoreline and recreational activities being the predominant activity leading to trash in the seas.
The report also identified 27 priority sites prone to rubbish accumulation, including Shui Hau, and relevant departments will take appropriate action.
