6-month grace period under Hong Kong’s coming waste-charging scheme may be extended if necessary: environment chief
- Secretary for Environment and Ecology Tse Chin-wan says extension possible after lawmaker Chan Hok-fung expresses concerns over duration of grace period
- Under six-month period, residents who do not comply with new rules will mostly be given verbal warnings
Hong Kong’s environment chief has said authorities will consider extending a six-month grace period under an impending waste-charging scheme if necessary.
Responding to questions from lawmakers on Wednesday, Secretary for Environment and Ecology Tse Chin-wan also said the government had observed a 15 per cent increase in recyclables in recent months following the promotion of the scheme.
“At first, we set a six-month adjustment period, which is not a short period of time,” Tse said. “Of course, our goal is to promote the scheme to let everyone learn and change their behaviour, so if we see there is really a need, we can consider extending the grace period.”
The municipal waste-charging scheme will require residents to dispose of their rubbish using government-designated bags.
The scheme was set to be implemented on April 1, but authorities on Friday announced they would further delay the launch to August 1, citing the need to educate the public amid widespread confusion over the plan.
Under the six-month grace period, residents who do not comply with the new rules will be mostly be given verbal warnings.
Once the period ends, people who fail to use the designated bags or labels will face a fixed penalty of HK$1,500 (US$191). Serious or repeat offenders could be prosecuted and face fines between HK$25,000 and HK$50,000, and up to six months’ jail.