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One in three local retailers defying Hong Kong’s plastic bag law, according to green group who posed as undercover shoppers

Greater enforcement urged after undercover study of 100 shops and vendors

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The levy scheme was enacted in 2015. Photo:

A Hong Kong green group is urging officials to crack down on retailers’ free use of plastic bags after finding that over one in three ignored the mandatory levy.

Throughout last month and this month, staffers at Greeners Action went undercover as shoppers in eight areas of the city: Mong Kok, Prince Edward, Sham Shui Po, Cheung Sha Wan, Kwai Fong, Tsuen Wan, Central and Wan Chai. They patronised retailers dealing in hardware, stationery, fashion, household goods, accessories and miscellaneous items, among others.

Of the 100 local shops and street vendors they visited, 35 did not charge customers the government- mandated HK$0.50 to use a plastic bag, with 57 per cent of those flouting the policy being hawker-style shops.

Greeners Action staffers went undercover as shoppers at 100 shops and vendors to carry out their study. Photo: Hana Davis
Greeners Action staffers went undercover as shoppers at 100 shops and vendors to carry out their study. Photo: Hana Davis
This is the group’s second in-depth analysis of the free use of plastic bags in the city. The first came last summer, a year after the government passed the legislation.

“While results have improved since last year’s similar investigation, with a 20 per cent decrease in the free use of bags, the figures are still skewed in a worryingly imbalanced ratio, especially given that the legislation has been in place for two years,” Greeners Action assistant project manager Leo Wong Ka-chi said.

Their attitude and disregard prove they do not care
Vicki Wong Pui-chi, Greeners Action
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