Government officials, Vice Chief Secretary of Administration John Chak Wing-hing and Secretary for the Environment and Ecology Alex Tse Chin-wan, met with reporters on the 27th at the Legislative Council to explain the decision to postpone the implementation of the waste disposal levy. When asked whether they or others needed to be held accountable, or whether there was a need to apologize to the government-assisting organizations, or if there were explanations owed to taxpayers and citizens for using a large amount of public funds, Chak responded by stating that the impact of the waste disposal levy on society is unprecedented.
Chak further emphasized that in promoting this policy at different stages, the government has made efforts to the fullest extent. He cited the two postponements as being reasonable, and the current suspension being a pragmatic and correct approach, reflecting the government’s commitment to serving the people and supporting the Secretary.
He explained that after the waste disposal levy had been promoted for many years and the legislation passed, the current government had undertaken significant efforts such as airing promotional videos tens of thousands of times, posting posters in over 4,000 locations, and providing explanations to various regions, relevant industries, and foreign domestic workers. Chak reiterated that the Secretary had made every effort to promote this policy.
Regarding the criticism from the public about why the waste disposal levy had not been implemented after so many years of promotion, Chak mentioned that it was only recently that many problems surfaced. The government had initially planned the implementation by the end of last year, but due to industry feedback about employee holidays and peak waste disposal periods, it was postponed to April this year. As the date approached, there was significant public opposition and concern, leading to the discovery of undiscussed issues during the trial period, with 70-80% of the public opposing the August implementation. The decision to postpone this time was deemed practical, correct, and perhaps the only choice under strong public sentiment.
Chak also mentioned that society as a whole is not adequately prepared for the waste disposal levy, with deficiencies in understanding, acceptance, and recycling culture.
He questioned whether it was irresponsible to simply enforce a law just because it existed and stressed that governance should be timely and responsive, rather than rigidly enforcing laws for the sake of it.
Secretary Alex Tse noted that there had been an increase in recycling facilities and recycling volumes over the past year thanks to extensive government efforts. The government would continue to evaluate the overall sentiment in society and the maturity level in promoting waste reduction.
In response, Democratic Party spokesperson for policy development, Roy Cheung Wing-fai, pointed out that due to inadequate consideration and preparation, the waste charging plan had been repeatedly delayed and ultimately unsuccessful, wasting nearly HK$180 million in public funds for policy promotion.
Cheung acknowledged that the initial intention of implementing the waste charging plan was good – encouraging citizens to reduce waste production and protect the environment. He urged the government to ensure comprehensive planning and consultation with stakeholders, including setting up recycling facilities in different communities and food waste collection points. Cheung also suggested that the government should lead by example by implementing waste disposal arrangements in its own facilities to demonstrate commitment to waste reduction and evaluate policy effectiveness.
Cheung further emphasized the importance of promoting waste reduction at various levels like schools and communities through education and propaganda measures.