“All this information needs to be clearly explained, spelled out and easily available for everybody. So [the Environment and Ecology Bureau] will work harder on holding seminars, doing press conferences, explaining whenever they can with different stakeholders and also work out good [questions and answers] so that people can easily understand what their roles will be, their legal responsibilities and how things will work out.”

Starting on April 1, residents will be required to collect their rubbish in prepaid bags that will cost 11 HK cents (1 US cent) per litre.

The scheme, first raised 20 years ago, was originally set to be implemented by the end of last year, but authorities delayed it, saying more time was needed to work out the logistics.

Lee said he had heard many questions about waste charging from residents and representatives of different industries, including property management, which had expressed concerns about its enforcement and operation.

But Secretary for Environment and Ecology Tse Chin-wan denied publicity efforts had so far been insufficient, saying promotional videos published on various media platforms had been viewed thousands of times.

Authorities would use television commercials, carefully worded postings on blogs and infographics published on social media to get its message across, he said.

The government would also hold a press conference on Friday outlining its plan to further educate the public, he added.

While pledging he would do more, Tse staunchly rejected the notion the recent wave of publicity was a last-minute scramble to ensure the scheme launched smoothly and argued ramping up efforts was only natural as the April 1 starting date neared.

“This is not just the case in Hong Kong, but also in many other places – everyone gets nervous when something is about to take effect and needs to be done,” he said. “This is the human nature of people.”

01:35

Plastic-eating superworms with ‘recycling plant’ in their guts might get a job gobbling up waste

Plastic-eating superworms with ‘recycling plant’ in their guts might get a job gobbling up waste

Steven Chan Wing-kit, an assistant manager at environmental advocacy group The Green Earth, disagreed with the minister’s portrayal of the publicity campaign, calling efforts “inadequate and slow”.

“Most of the promotion efforts only appeared after November 2023,” he said, adding the government had wasted precious time to properly prepare residents.

The government should take a more active role in explaining the arrangements to residents and place more emphasis on encouraging people to reduce their waste overall, such as through reusing or recycling, Chan suggested.

While adapting to waste charging might be initially difficult, the scheme was “a golden opportunity for a structural transition to a circular economy and zero-waste society”, he said.

Johnnie Chan Chi-kau, former president of the Hong Kong Association of Property Management Companies, agreed that a greater promotional push by the government would help discussions with residents over implementing the new rules, particularly on how to settle the extra fees arising from improperly bagged trash.

“Whenever a property management company needs to roll out measures to support government policy, we need to get approval from residents,” he said. “More promotion will help.”

Edward Lau Kwok-fan, the chairman of the legislature’s environmental affairs panel, said he had invited Tse to attend a meeting next week to discuss the scheme.

The public continued to have doubts about the technical details of the arrangement, he said, adding he had particular concerns about how waste charging would work in old buildings and rural areas.

“The government has the responsibility to step up publicity, educate the public and clarify public doubts,” he said.

Additional reporting by Sophie Chew and Edith Lin