Letters | This time, Hong Kong must resist the pressure to delay waste charging

Readers discuss how Hong Kong can avoid another delay by making a few tweaks, why city need not chase after foreign pop stars, and the perks enjoyed by former leader Carrie Lam

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Designated garbage bags must be used when Hong Kong’s waste charging scheme starts in August. Photo: Eugene Lee

Published: 11:30am, 24 May 2024

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I turned 30 this week and, like many of my peers, I often reminisce about the milder weather of our childhood days. We are experiencing more extreme weather, with warmer summer nights and more violent storms, a trend likely to continue during our lifetime.

Remarkably, over the past few years, I have seen Hong Kong people’s attitudes and behaviours radically change – especially in their considerable and unprecedented efforts to recycle and shop responsibly. However, in recent weeks, I have been disappointed by the increasing pressure on the government to delay the waste-charging scheme.

We all know waste charging is the right thing to do but we are retreating because policy execution might not be perfect on the first day of the launch.

We must go ahead as planned in August. But for the change to be palatable, I believe what we need is an adaptation period and for the government to make some concessions in the short term.

The government could distribute smaller bags to households free of charge for the first three months, and provide large free bags for food and beverage outlets until the end of the year. Thereafter, the authorities should lower the price of the smaller bags so their cost is similar to that of bin bags currently available on the market.