I agree with Secretary for the Environment Edward Yau Tang-wah's proposed levy on waste.
The fee would be a significant step towards reducing the amount of our solid waste, while also slowing the rate at which our landfills become saturated. Yet there would be some drawbacks.
Low-income citizens might be hard-pressed to afford such a fee in their limited daily budgets. They are facing hardships as it is and extra expenditures would further lower their quality of living.
While I support the policy, I think the government should strike a balance between environmental conservation and the public good.
Before it implements this policy, the government should set up a transition period that lets citizens adapt to the new ways of waste disposal. It should also promote awareness of eco-friendly practices to the public.
We need to ensure the programme is fair and effective.
Fong Kwok-ho, King Ling College