“Overall, I don’t think everyone needs to change a lot to the extent that it greatly affects their daily lives.”
The first phase of the ban took effect on Monday and covers styrofoam products and throwaway plastic utensils such as cutlery and straws prohibited for takeaway purchases. Single-use plastic tableware is no longer available to patrons dining in.
Some residents were unfazed, but others complained about the quality of replacement utensils, including customers who were annoyed over using paper straws for drinks because some became soggy quickly.
City leader Lee said he was “optimistic” and that many restaurants and usual providers of plastic products were falling in line with the new policy.
Asked about complaints over the suitability of replacement products, he said he hoped quality would improve through “market forces”.
“We are very concerned about whether the supply of replacement products is enough and whether the prices are at a level that residents can afford,” Lee said.
“The replacement products will only cost several cents or 20 to 30 [HK] cents for now, which residents can cope with during the ban’s implementation.”
Lee said the government would continue to listen to opinions on the policy, such as how to provide more replacement options.
Simon Wong Ka-wo, president of the Hong Kong Federation of Restaurants and Related Trades, earlier said about 70 per cent of his organisation’s 18,000 members were yet to offer alternatives to the prohibited items amid a six-month grace period before penalties began.
Some in the industry took a more radical approach, with one leading representative opting to close takeaway services to reduce the hassle associated with the ban.
LH Group CEO and chairman Simon Wong Kit-lung announced on his Facebook page that four of his Japanese restaurant chains Gyu-Kaku, Gyu-Kaku Buffet, Mou Mou Club and On-Yasai would stop offering takeaway meals and focus instead on dine-in customers.
Tourists, business travellers unfazed by Hong Kong ban on single-use plastics
Tourists, business travellers unfazed by Hong Kong ban on single-use plastics
“We do not have a lot of takeaway business anyway, it’s a one-off move to avoid the hassle of the plastic ban,” he said in the post.
More than 4,000 people had liked the post within hours, prompting the restaurateur to clarify on Tuesday morning that he was not opposed to the government’s plastics ban.
“Some suggested that my reaction was ‘soft resistance’ or opposing the plastic ban. No, no, no, no, absolutely not,” he said.
“I’m just saying that there are multiple ways to reduce the use of disposable plastic, including dining in, or using reusable cutlery at home or in the office. It depends on your situation and what works for you.”
The LH Group CEO argued that while paying for a set of disposable cutlery was the law-abiding way, it was still not the most environmentally friendly option.
But he said the ban was “not the end of the world” as many had argued and dining in was an easy alternative.
Additional reporting by Ambrose Li
