The government is likely to impose HK$0.5 plastic bag levy by
the end of next year, an Environmental Protection Department (EPD)
source said yesterday.
The government will present a bill to Legislative Council in the
next legislative session for deliberation. If the bill sails
through the LegCo without a hitch, the government will start
collecting the plastic bag levy as early as the end of next
year.
Green groups like the Friends of the Earth and the Hong Kong
Conservancy Association strongly supported the levy imposition.
However, the Hong Kong Plastic Bags Manufacturers Association
and Hong Kong Retail Management Association regarded the levy as
unfair as it only targets the large/chain supermarkets and
convenient stores.
In the two-month period between May 28 and July 31 this year,
the government consulted the public on the imposition of a plastic
bag tax.
The government also commissioned a poll involving 1,102
respondents, of whom 84 percent supported the principle of 'the
polluters pays' and 66 percent supported the idea of a plastic bag
tax respectively.
And among those who supported a plastic bag tax, 76 percent said
it would only be effective if the levy was fixed at HK$0.5 or
higher and 78 percent said they would use fewer plastic bags if a
tax was levied.
An EPD source said the purpose of the levy is not to increase
government revenue. It is aimed at cutting consumption by 1 billion
plastic bags per year.
If the people think HK$0.5 cents is too high a levy, it will
have a deterrent effect and people will use fewer plastic bags,
said the source.
It is hoped the law will come into effect in July 2008. Then,
the government will register the shops involved and allow them time
to revise their computer systems before they can collect the tax
for the government.
A year after the law becomes effective, the government will
review as to when the law will be extended to shops other than
large supermarkets and convenience stores.
According to the government, 20 percent of the 8 billion plastic
shopping bags dumped at the landfills annually come from the large
supermarkets, convenience stores, personal care product shops and
bakeries.
The government has made a voluntary agreement with these sales
outlets to offer concessions to customers who do not use any
plastic shopping bags and to encourage customers to bring their own
bags.
The government said Ireland and Taiwan reduced the use of
plastic shopping bags by 90 percent and 80 percent respectively in
the first year after a similar tax was imposed.
(China Daily September 4, 2007)
