Tse Chin-wan24th May 2025 – (Hong Kong) The implementation of the initial phase of the Plastic-Free campaign has exceeded a year, yet the scheduled comprehensive ban on plastic cups, containers, and other items in the second phase lacks a set timeline. Secretary for Environment and Ecology Tse Chin-wan has dismissed today claims of delaying the plastic-free progression, emphasising the need for suitable alternatives before enforcing the second phase of the initiative, set to commence with trial programs by mid-year.
Tse highlighted the forthcoming ban on single-use plastic containers in the second phase of the Plastic-Free campaign, targeting items like plastic cups, containers, and lids commonly used in takeout services. Acknowledging the practical challenges of expecting all Hong Kong residents to carry containers for takeout orders, Tse stressed the importance of assessing the viability and public acceptance of disposable non-plastic alternatives.
To identify suitable substitutes, Tse announced plans to collaborate with the food and beverage industry in conducting trials of various alternative food containers during the mid-year, encompassing a range of cuisines from Chinese, Western, Japanese, to Indian fare. He expressed confidence that these trials would expedite the introduction of mature alternative products to the market, dispelling concerns of indefinite delays in implementing the Plastic-Free measures.
Recognizing the limitations of enforcing environmental policies through compulsion, Tse admitted that the efficacy of such measures could sometimes fall short of expectations, drawing parallels with the experience of waste charging initiatives. While the reimplementation date for the waste charging scheme, suspended for a year, remains pending, Tse noted a heightened public awareness of waste reduction and recycling efforts. A report to the Legislative Council is slated for July to gather feedback on the implementation schedule.
Moreover, the administration’s waste reduction objectives remain unchanged, with a strategic shift towards developing a green economy and transforming recyclables into high-value products. Tse highlighted the potential for developing a circular economy in the Greater Bay Area, where used electric vehicle batteries processed in Hong Kong can be transported to the mainland for recycling into new batteries.
The new regulation on disposable plastic products came into effect on 22nd April last year. The first phase imposed restrictions on all polystyrene food utensils, plastic straws, cutlery, stirrers, and plates, prohibiting their sale and their use in both takeaway and dine-in services. The subsequent phase will comprehensively prohibit the provision and sale of plastic cups, bowls, meal boxes, and related container lids.