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Following is a transcript (English portion) of the media session by the Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works, Dr Sarah Liao, today (July 20):
Reporter: Can you talk about the tax on plastic bags? What is the future development?
Dr Liao: We are now looking into how to implement taxation on plastic bags. We are studying various options. We haven't come to a conclusion yet. It is still at a study stage.
Reporter: Have you thought about how the trade would respond to that?
Dr Liao: We have been consulting them. Of course the trade has its worries but we believe in our consultation with the public that the minimisation on plastic bag usage is what society really wants. Economic incentive is one of the methods to make it happen.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion)
Ends/Thursday, July 20, 2006
Issued at HKT 15:34
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