The government proposes to increase the levy on plastic bags from 5 milliliters to 1 yuan, which will be implemented from the end of this year. Legislative Council member Tse Wai-chuen proposed to revise the levy amount earlier and suggested that it be increased to 2 yuan.
The relevant subsidiary legislation subcommittee of the Legislative Council held a meeting today (10th) to discuss.
During the meeting, a number of members debated whether to increase the amount to 2 yuan. Some people believed that making the public "red" would help reduce disposal, while others believed that it was a "surgery" at the grassroots level.
Ho Chun-yin of the Democratic Alliance for Betterment of Hong Kong suggested that it is better to consider only cash for the levy, which would make users feel troublesome and not collect plastic bags.
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Yang Yongjie: I should not accept a cent
Chen Shaoxiong, a member of the Election Committee, pointed out that the government's proposal to increase the fee to 1 yuan is not a large amount, and the public quickly became accustomed to it. If they have to review the plan and adjust the fee again, it would be better to increase the fee to 2 yuan once and for all. Only when you feel "red flesh" has real effect.
He also believes that consumers have the right to choose and do not want to be levied, so they can choose to bring their own shopping bags.
Yeung Wing-kit, a directly-elected member of the Kowloon Central Committee, questioned that the use of levies to promote the reduction of the use of plastic bags is wrong in itself. The levy is a heavy burden on the grassroots and should not be charged at all. Education and encouraging citizens to reduce waste is the most fundamental.
He also pointed out that many citizens will deliberately buy one more frozen product when shopping in the supermarket in exchange for a free plastic bag.
Government: Will respect the amendments proposed by MPs
In his speech, He Junxian said that it is not interesting to discuss the public's "a few dollars before the flesh hurts", because "the flesh hurts" are all grassroots. For those who earn more than 100,000 yuan a month, 1 or 2 yuan is never a problem. Only the grassroots are affected, but it is pointed out that environmental protection should be a matter for all Hong Kong people.
He put forward some counter-suggestions, including only adding 60 cents: "But you have to pay cash, so everyone will think, 'It's troublesome, I don't want (plastic bags)', is this enough?"
The Deputy Director of the Environmental Protection Department, Lu Jiajian, reiterated that, given the current economic environment, the Government believes that it would be more appropriate to start with $1. However, since $2 has also gained a certain degree of support in the report of the Committee on Sustainable Development, if members think that it should be raised further The government will also respect the proposed amendments.
Plastic bag levy | Propose to increase the levy to 2 yuan to discuss Xie Weiquan: Citizens have a choice, can they increase the levy to 2 yuan for a plastic bag?
Government: Gradual progress is more appropriate, but open-mindedness The plastic bag levy is planned to be doubled from 12.31 to 1 yuan. The authorities will start the legislative process. Two exemptions will be cancelled
