Letters | How Hong Kong’s budget can best channel green investments

Readers discuss environmental priorities the budget should address, the catering industry’s apprehensions about the ban on single-use plastics, and the delay of the waste-charging scheme

Hong Kong environmental issues

Letters

Published: 11:30am, 15 Feb 2024

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The 2024-25 budget will be unveiled by Financial Secretary Chan Mo-po on February 28. The Green Earth would like to share the views it expressed on environmental measures during a budget consultation meeting.

The need to keep expenditure within the limit of revenue is clearly stated in the Basic Law. In December last year, Chan warned that the government’s deficit could be more than HK$100 billion (US$12.8 billion). We must prevent the situation from worsening.

It would be prudent for the government to pull the plug on the mega reclamation project “Lantau Tomorrow Vision”, estimated to cost HK$580 billion, and channel its limited reserves into other areas where investments are more needed for the sustainable development of our city.

For example, to ease public concern about the waste charging scheme that has been postponed and will now take effect on August 1, the government needs to set aside enough funds to improve waste management facilities while enhancing public education.

Apart from the existing recycling facilities, there are only 47 government-funded recycling stations and recycling stores coupled with some 130 recycling spots to serve the entire population. In some districts, residents need to walk at least 15 minutes if they are keen to practise recycling. This weak recycling network should be expanded to make it more convenient for users.

Besides dry recyclables, we generate wet recyclables – mainly food waste, which accounts for 30 per cent of the city’s municipal solid waste. So far 449 food waste smart recycling bins have been installed in residential buildings, but we need many more to serve the domestic and commercial sectors.

Another new bill aiming to reduce single-use plastics will take effect on April 22. The government should strengthen the promotion of the single-use plastic ban to enable people to understand the environmental and health benefits that the ban will bring.

Why not consider offering subsidies to encourage businesses to deploy the reuse approach as changing to use non-plastic alternatives will yield the same amount of waste?

To reduce air pollutants emitted from ocean vessels and container ships to safeguard public health, the government should follow the global trend of developing shore power facilities at our cruise and container terminals.

Strong public opposition to the waste charging scheme reflects that environmental education must be strengthened for all sectors. To do this well and have a long-lasting effect, perhaps our government officials should be first educated on where to put green investments.

Edwin Lau Che-feng, executive director, The Green Earth

Restaurants had enough time get act together on plastic

Reading about restaurant operators worried and complaining about the coming single-use plastic ban is another reminder of how out of touch Hong Kong can be (“Hong Kong restaurants grapple with impending ban on plastic, with some saying it costs too much to go green”, February 11).

After many countries banned various single use plastic items years ago, for Hong Kong eateries to act as if they were caught off guard is no excuse for not quickly implementing the ban. While restaurants and eateries could use plastics in abundance, this does not mean they should. Years of ignoring the plastics conundrum is no different from ignoring other issues over the long term – it all catches up, and the cost of addressing the issue increases over time.

We have all seen the statistics as to how we are such a disposable-driven city. I have absolutely no sympathy for the shameful crying of those who have contributed to the emergency in which we find ourselves. Ban all single-use plastics immediately.

Simon Constantinides, Sai Kung

Let’s not have a third delay of the waste charging scheme

The controversial waste charging scheme has been postponed once again. It was initially expected to be rolled out in 2023. Then April 1, 2024, was set as the launch date. Last month, it was announced that the start date would be pushed back to August because people still seemed to be confused about how the scheme would be implemented.

It is rare for the government to listen to the people and repeatedly delay the launch of a scheme. But should we be happy about this?

Although the scheme has been discussed for more than a decade, one might be forgiven for feeling that officials are living in an ivory tower when they come up with solutions such as cutting the handle of a mop into two so that it fits into designated garbage bags, as an assistant director for the Environmental Protection Department suggested.

We all understand that it is our responsibility to be environmentally friendly, but there should be clear and practical instructions to follow. The government squandered the opportunity to clarify the details of the scheme when its launch was postponed last year.

Waste disposal habits cannot be changed in a year in Hong Kong’s crowded and complex living environment. Nevertheless, although it may take a decade to alter our behaviour, there must not be a third delay of the scheme with other excuses.

Jack Chung, Sham Shui Po

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