Submissions and Reports

The Chamber welcomes the Environmental Protection Department’s consultation on the Specifications for Product Barcode and Designated Logo for Producer Responsibility Scheme on Plastic Beverage Containers (“PPRS”), and suggests that greater flexibility be afforded to the arrangements to avoid wastage or any unintended consequences of discouraging efforts to reduce plastic waste.

The Chamber welcomes the HKLRC’s proposals to introduce a bespoke law that deals with the proliferation of cyber-dependent crimes given the risks of such illegal acts on Hong Kong’s businesses. The Chamber has also called for a balanced approach in the design of the new law so that other than the objective of protecting public interest, consideration should also be given to upholding business’ legitimate needs.

The Chamber welcomes and supports the ISSB’s initiative to formulate a comprehensive set of global sustainability disclosures to serve as performance guideposts for businesses, while providing consistent, comparable and high-quality ESG reporting designed to meet investor needs. However, questions over the approach to and with the proposed standards, such as the lack of clarity on when the ISSB will be fully quorate and the absence of the principle-based GRI standard, will have to be addressed before the new standards are introduced.

The Chamber supports the use of legislation to eliminate disposable plastic tableware from the waste stream, but suggests that consideration should also be given to viable substitutes as an interim means of transitioning away from plastics. Over the long term, there is the need for a holistic approach to eliminating the use of single-use items.

The Chamber welcomes and supports a Member’s Bill as proposed by Ms Elizabeth Quat to incorporate wildlife trafficking and illegal trade crimes into the Organised and Serious Crimes Ordinance. We believe that by vesting the authorities with greater investigative and punitive powers, this would have the desired effect of reducing wildlife crimes committed in Hong Kong.

The Chamber supports the introduction of a Producer Responsibility Scheme on Plastic Beverage Containers to reduce waste and create a circular economy in Hong Kong. The Chamber agrees with the general aspects of the scheme but suggests certain areas be adjusted to promote broader buy-in and participation.

The Chamber agrees with the Government that there is the need to address the abuse of SIM Cards for criminal purposes, but suggests that consideration should also be given to attendant issues such as data privacy implications and efficacy of a mandatory registration system. In light of the social impact that such regulatory changes may bring, the Chamber recommends that efforts be made to better define the rights and responsibilities of stakeholders, namely, users, operators, and regulators under the proposed programme.

The Chamber agrees with the Law Reform Commission’s proposals to relax the current prohibition of outcome-related fee structures for arbitration to enhance Hong Kong’s competitiveness as an arbitration centre, but suggests that a phased approach be adopted to the implementation of flexible fee structures. Due consideration should also be given to the protection of the interests of smaller businesses opting for such a means of dispute resolution.

The Chamber is pleased to note that a Legislative Council’s Bills Committee was formed on 16 October 2020 to again study a bill to implement a charging scheme for the purpose of reducing MSW following a previous attempt to do so during the previous legislative term. The Chamber believes that such a charging scheme would lay a useful foundation for Hong Kong to manage waste in a more responsible and effective manner.

The Chamber welcomes and appreciates opportunity to comment on measures to promote the use of electric vehicles (EVs) in Hong Kong. We believe Hong Kong should look to EVs as a viable means to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 and play to our advantages with respect to the city’s size, compactness and developed infrastructure in popularising the use of EVs.