More publicity on waste charging: CE

January 16, 2024

Chief Executive John Lee:
In regard to (Municipal) Solid Waste Charging, I have, of course, heard a lot about questions that have been raised in industries and, of course, by members of the public. I have asked the Secretary for Environment & Ecology to ensure that the action plan has its details worked out, and clearly explained to all relevant parties - whether (they are) in the estate management sector, in the catering sector, in the housing sector, and all members of public who need to buy all these (designated) bags. 

All these are information that needs to be clearly explained, spelt out and easily available to everybody. They will work harder on holding seminars, doing press conferences, explaining whenever they can to different stakeholders, and also work out good Q&As (questions and answers), so that people can easily understand what their roles will be, their legal responsibilities are, and how things will work out when all these things are rolled out. 

This charging policy is an important policy to change human behaviour, and we know it is full of challenges and uncertainties when all these new behaviours need to be, in some way, carried out by everybody in the whole of Hong Kong.

(To watch the full media session with sign language interpretation, click here.)

As Municipal Solid Waste Charging is set to be implemented on April 1, Chief Executive John Lee stressed that the charging details need to be clearly explained, spelt out and easily available to all citizens.

Under the waste charging scheme, people will need to follow a set of new rules, such as using designated bags, for waste disposal.

At a media session ahead of the Executive Council meeting today, Mr Lee described the move as an important policy to change human behaviour, noting that he is well aware of the challenges and uncertainties ahead.

“I have asked the Secretary for Environment & Ecology to ensure that the action plan has its details worked out, and clearly explained to all relevant parties - whether they are in the estate management sector, in the catering sector, in the housing sector, and all members of public who need to buy all these designated bags.”

He added that efforts will be stepped up in organising seminars, holding press conferences and explaining the policy to stakeholders, so that people can easily understand their own roles and legal responsibilities.