9 January 2019
Hon Ma Fung-kwok, SBS, JP Chairman The Bills Committee on Waste Disposal (Charging for Municipal Solid Waste) Legislative Council Complex 1 Legislative Council Road Central, Hong Kong
Dear Mr Ma,
Statement of Support for a Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) Charging Scheme
The Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce (“HKGCC”) welcomes and supports the Government’s introduction of a bill on 14 November 2018 to implement a charging scheme for the purpose of reducing MSW. As an advocate of the polluter-pays principle, HKGCC believes that such a charging scheme would help bring about the requisite change in public behavior on reducing waste at source and promoting a greener lifestyle.
We are pleased to note that the Government recognises the importance of raising public awareness and has, in this connection, allocated much-needed resources to actively engage the general community through a multipronged approach to minimising and recycling waste. We also welcome such initiatives as a free territory-wide service for the collection of waste plastics from non-commercial and industrial sources, as well as the continuation with producer responsibility schemes. In addition, it is encouraging to note that there are plans over the longer term to address the issue of food waste, measures that include, among other things, the development of food waste recovery centers and expansion of food waste treatment facilities.
It is imperative that Hong Kong readjusts its mindset and everyday practices on waste generation, which is significantly higher than the rate of that in neighbouring jurisdictions. HKGCC therefore looks forward to working with the Government in bringing the MSW Charging Scheme into fruition in the interest of sustaining Hong Kong’s competitiveness and liveability over the longer term.
Yours sincerely,
Shirley Yuen
CEO
cc: Mr Wong Kam-sing, GBS, JP, Secretary for the Environment
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