The Government today launched a one-month public consultation on the preliminary proposal to raise the fixed penalty level for public cleanliness and obstruction offences.

In the past few months, the District Matters Co-ordination Task Force led by the Deputy Chief Secretary has taken measures on various fronts to endeavour to enhance environmental hygiene in the city in a short period of time.

The Chief Executive announced in the 2022 Policy Address that the task force's next steps include conducting a comprehensive review on the existing statutory powers and penalties relating to environmental hygiene to enhance the efficiency, effectiveness and deterrent effect of enforcement actions against thorny environmental hygiene problems.

The first stage is to consult the Legislative Council this year on the proposal to increase the fixed penalty level. Other proposed legislative amendments will be put forth in mid-2023.

At present, there are nine scheduled offences under Schedule 1 of the Fixed Penalty (Public Cleanliness & Obstruction) Ordinance. The fixed penalty level has remained at $1,500 since June 2003.

The Government Programme on Tackling Hygiene Black Spots started this August, has achieved some initial success. In order to sustain, consolidate and enhance the city's environmental hygiene in the long run, the task force considers it necessary to raise the statutory penalties of environmental hygiene offences to increase the deterrent effect and strengthen the public's law-abiding value.

The proposal is to raise the fixed penalty for seven scheduled offences, which involve the conduct of individual members of the public including disposal of waste and spitting at public places, country parks or into the sea, to $3,000; and raise the fixed penalty for two scheduled offences mainly related to shopfront extension and illegal disposal of construction waste or a large amount of other waste to $6,000.

The Government understands that there may be various views in the community on the fixed penalty increase. It is therefore conducting a one-month public consultation to earnestly listen to the community's views on the proposed increase before finalising it.

From today until January 19, 2023, the public can send their views by post to the Environment & Ecology Bureau, 17/F, East Wing, Central Government Offices, 2 Tim Mei Avenue, Tamar, Hong Kong, fax 2136 3282, email fixed_penalty_review@eeb.gov.hk or use the e-form in the public consultation document.

Click here for the consultation paper.