Green shopping: Secretary for the Environment Edward Yau discusses plastic shopping bags on a radio talk show.

Secretary for the Environment Edward Yau is confident the environmental levy on plastic shopping bags will run smoothly when it launches July 7.

Speaking on a radio talk show this morning Mr Yau said there will be clear signs and posters displayed at participating stores, including supermarkets, personal care shops and convenience stores. Fifty cents will be charged for each plastic bag requested at these retailers.

He said the public generally supports the idea of the using fewer plastic bags and retailers respect their customers' wish.

To encourage building owners to conduct energy-cum-carbon audits and energy efficiency projects for their buildings, the $450 million Building Energy Efficiency Funding Schemes were launched in April.

Subsidies will be provided on a matching basis. For applications involving a single building, the funding caps will be $150,000 per building for energy-cum-carbon audits projects and $500,000 per building for energy efficiency projects. Mr Yau said over 500 applications have been received so far.

He also emphasised it is not possible to solely rely on legislation to promote environmental protection, saying public education is as important.