Plastic bag levy confuses Hong Kong shoppers as full scheme comes into force
Shoppers whinge about unclear guidelines while shops worry when customers insist on free bags
An expanded levy scheme on plastic bags left consumers at a loss - and shops compelled to provide free bags to insistent customers - on the first day the rule kicked in yesterday.
Patrons at a supermarket blamed unclear government guidelines on when they had to pay 50 cents for a bag, despite the store placing at its entrance publicity fliers with photographs illustrating examples of goods that fell within and outside the scheme.
Last night, the Environmental Protection Department said it had issued two verbal warnings to non-compliant shops - a bakery and a Chinese herbal tea seller - out of more than 300 retailers its inspectors visited.
Watch: Confusion and concern over Hong Kong’s new plastic bag levy
The department had undertaken a massive push in the past weeks to educate the public and advertise the expanded scheme.