Lawmakers reacted cautiously yesterday to a possible plan to charge households for handling rubbish.
Although households would not be targeted under the new waste reduction scheme, legislators asked at the environmental affairs panel meeting if the Government had the plan in mind.
'The Government says households need not pay now, but how about one day in the future? Just be frank, tell us if you will charge us or not,' asked Lau Kong-wah of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong.
Steve Barclay, the acting deputy secretary for Planning, Environment and Lands, said the Government had no secret agenda but would look at every option.
'What we are doing is to lay out the policy directions. We cannot make all decisions in day one.
'Charging has to be one of the issues, but not the first priority. The public has to pay anyway. The matter is in what way they pay,' Mr Barclay said, adding that the fee would not be extended to households before 2000.