Public consultation on waste charge necessary
Philip Bowring says it is "nonsense" to consult the public on waste charging ("Land policy on shaky ground", August 11). He sees consulting the public as either a lack of confidence on the part of government or lack of an effective plan to sell waste charging to the public and legislators.
He sees consulting the public as either a lack of confidence on the part of government or lack of an effective plan to sell waste charging to the public and legislators.
Let me set this straight. The last administration consulted the public in early 2012 on whether the principle of waste charging was acceptable to the public.
Over 60 per cent of respondents accepted waste charging as a concept.
This administration has already announced that it is our policy to charge for municipal solid waste and our aim is to start charging by 2016, as we will need to pass legislation before we can impose a charge.
We have to work out the details of how to put together a waste charging scheme that works for Hong Kong, where 80 per cent of the people live in high-rise buildings.
We also plan to charge commercial and industrial companies for their municipal solid waste.