Hong Kong’s leader asks environment chief to devise ‘sharper, clearer’ strategies to ensure public awareness of waste-charging scheme

Hong Kong’s chief has requested the setting minister to plot “sharper and clearer” promotional methods to make sure public consciousness of a brand new waste-charging scheme aimed toward decreasing the quantity of garbage tossed into landfills.

Chief Govt John Lee Ka-chiu on Tuesday mentioned large-scale, steady and repeated efforts had been wanted to advertise and educate residents concerning the scheme.

“I’ve requested the secretary for setting and ecology to make sure the motion plan [for the waste-charging scheme] has its particulars labored out and clearly defined to all related events,” mentioned Lee, referring to property administration corporations, the catering business and residents, earlier than his weekly assembly with the Govt Council, town’s key decision-making physique.

“All this data must be clearly defined, spelled out and simply accessible for everyone. So [the Environment and Ecology Bureau] will work tougher on holding seminars, doing press conferences, explaining each time they’ll with totally different stakeholders and likewise work out good [questions and answers] so that folks can simply perceive what their roles can be, their authorized tasks and the way issues will work out.”

From April 1, residents can be charged for the waste they get rid of as a part of the federal government’s municipal stable waste-charging marketing campaign.

Residents can be required to gather their garbage in pay as you go baggage that can price 11 HK cents per litre for the primary three years of the coverage. Baggage can be accessible in 9 totally different sizes from three litres (0.79) as much as 100 litres.

The scheme was initially set to be applied by the top of final yr, however authorities delayed it to April, saying extra time was wanted to work out the logistics.

Property administration companies have expressed considerations concerning the enforcement and operation of the scheme. Lee mentioned he had heard many questions from totally different industries and residents concerning the scheme.

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Lee mentioned promotional materials wanted to be easy for residents, including that authorities would additionally use social media of their efforts to tell the general public.

However the chief government didn’t reply to questions on precisely what number of press conferences and guides had been wanted to make sure residents had been well-informed concerning the coverage and likewise didn’t reply a question on whether or not he believed that the scheme could be applied on time.

Setting minister Tse Chin-wan afterward the identical day pledged to step up promotional efforts for the scheme, saying it could deliver Hong Kong in step with different cities that imposed related levies that led to many advantages.

“Ultimately, what the residents have to do can be quite simple,” he mentioned. “Ｗe have been utilizing plastic baggage for the rubbish. What we have to do is to interchange your normal plastic bag with a delegated bag.”

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He mentioned the potential influence on funds wouldn’t be extreme as a median family would spend lower than HK$2 on the charged in line with official estimates.

“What the chief government has mentioned very clearly is that we have to do extra and discuss extra,” he mentioned after selling the federal government’s waste discount initiatives at a neighborhood main faculty.

“Our colleagues will transient reporters on Friday on the small print of our method. On my weblog, I may even be writing extra to make clear misunderstandings [about the scheme].”

Acknowledging that the federal government’s sensible tips “could possibly be an extended learn”, he mentioned authorities would convey key factors to the general public by TV commercials, concise weblog passages and social media infographics.