Businesses violating Hong Kong’s single-use plastics ban after the end of a grace period will be warned and fined if they do not make the necessary changes in 10 working days, the environment minister has said.
Secretary for Environment and Ecology Tse Chin-wan said on Saturday authorities would prioritise inspecting retailers to ensure restricted single-use plastic cutlery and products were no longer available after the grace period ended on October 21.
Tse said officers from the Environmental Protection Department would inspect shops that did not comply with the rules during the transition period.
“If a retailer has yet to meet the requirements of the new legislation, a warning letter will be issued on-site and the person in charge will be asked to make improvements in 10 working days,” Tse wrote in his blog.
The operator will be issued a fixed penalty ticket if the business still fails to comply.
The department said it would also inspect and investigate other sectors, such as food and catering as well as hotels, upon receiving complaints.
