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Olga Wong

Six restaurants in Hong Kong have been fined HK$2,000 (US$257) each for repeatedly failing to comply with the single-use plastics ban since authorities started enforcing the new law in November, according to the city’s environment chief.
Under phase one of the ban, which officially took effect on April 22, retailers and restaurants can no longer sell or use polystyrene tableware or plastic cutlery for takeaway and dine-in services.
But authorities only started enforcement in November, after a six-month grace period.
Secretary for Environment and Ecology Tse Chin-wan on Saturday told media that since November the public had made 75 complaints, resulting in warnings in 59 cases.
He added that six restaurants were eventually fined HK$2,000 each for offering single-use cutlery.
Authorities earlier said that phase two of the ban could start as early as this year, depending on the availability and affordability of non-plastic or reusable alternatives.
Phase two will ban the use of all throwaway plastics in restaurants, plastic food containers, six-pack yokes for canned drinks, tablecloths, disposable gloves and plastic-stemmed dental floss.
Free distribution of earplugs will also be prohibited.

Tse maintained that authorities would enforce the phase-two ban only when proper substitutes were available.
“Based on our experience in phase one, it’s very important for alternative products to be well accepted by the public. So we will work with the industry to test reliable alternatives before moving forward to the next phase,” Tse said.
He cited the lid of a container for soup as an example, saying the food spilled over easily after some restaurants switched to paper lids.
City leader John Lee Ka-chiu said earlier that the ban was intended to encourage residents to change their behaviour rather than punish businesses.
Separately, Tse said the city’s producer responsibility scheme would soon be expanded to cover plastic bottles and drink cartons, with the drafted legislation to be discussed by the Legislative Council in the first half of this year.
He added that authorities had collected 150 million plastic bottles under the pilot scheme, which started in 2021, to test out reverse vending machines (RVMs) for collecting plastic drink containers. He considered the collection process effective.
Under the scheme, a total of 60 RVMs have been installed in phases at various public places, government facilities or shopping centres. Users will get 10 HK cents per container as an instant rebate.
Tse said the new law would require producers to collect their plastic bottles using their preferred methods, which they considered more cost-effective.


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6 Hong Kong restaurants slapped with fines for flouting single-use plastics ban

City leader John Lee has said that the plastics ban is intended to encourage residents to change their behaviour as opposed to punishing businesses. Photo: SCMP

Secretary for Environment and Ecology Tse Chin-wan has said that authorities received 75 complaints from the public since November. Photo: Eugene Lee

Hong Kong’s ban on single-use plastics not intended to punish businesses, John Lee says

The first phase of the single-use plastics ban, which officially took effect on April 22, had a six-month grace period that ended on Monday. Photo: Eugene Lee

Hong Kong aims to phase out many single-use plastic items in the near future. Photo: Eugene Lee

Hong Kong should do more to pressure producers of single-use plastics, Greenpeace says

Campaigner Leanne Tam (right) has urged on the government to set a specific target for plastic reduction or recycling under a producer responsibility scheme. Photo: Dickson Lee

Campaigner Leanne Tam (left) on board Rainbow Warrior after the well-known vessel docked in Hong Kong. Photo: Dickson Lee

Some Hong Kong firms struggle to replace single-use plastics as end of ban grace period nears

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A staff member of a restaurant in Central packs takeaway food with eco friendly utensils. Photo: Elson Li

Customers at a restaurant in Central have their meals served with takeaway cutlery and utensils. Photo: Elson Li

News

Hong Kong

Health & Environment

Environment chief Tse Chin-wan says each restaurant was fined HK$2,000 for repeated non-compliance


Environment chief Tse Chin-wan says each restaurant was fined HK$2,000 for repeated non-compliance.


Hong Kong environmental issues

Hong Kong’s single-use plastics ban

6 Hong Kong restaurants slapped with fines for flouting single-use plastics ban

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Environment chief Tse Chin-wan says each restaurant was fined HK$2,000 for repeated non-compliance

Environment chief Tse Chin-wan says each restaurant was fined HK$2,000 for repeated non-compliance