Hong Kong plastics ban: authorities come under fire over sushi guessing game at supermarkets
- Lawmaker Doreen Kong says authorities have only added to confusion by saying sushi can be served in plastic instead of cardboard for dine-in purposes
- Environmental authorities had posted clarification after complaints over consuming Japanese takeaway from supermarkets amid single-use plastics ban
Lawmaker Doreen Kong Yuk-foon on Thursday raised concerns over the Environmental Protection Department’s explanation that supermarkets could still use the containers for dine-in purposes under the single-use plastics ban.
A Facebook post on Wednesday on the page of the department’s mascot, Big Waster, said supermarkets selling sushi could still provide patrons using their dining areas with plastic boxes and lids as the meals were considered “takeaway”.
Authorities made the clarification following complaints over what some consumers described as a guessing game when buying packaged sushi after major Japanese discount chain Don Don Donki put some of its food in cardboard boxes instead of transparent plastic containers for those eating in its dining area.
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But lawmaker Kong, also a member of the committee that scrutinised the plastics ban bill, said the explanation was not in line with the law, accusing the department of only creating more confusion.
