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Following is a transcript (English version) of a stand-up briefing by the Secretary for the Environment, Mr Edward Yau, today (September 10) after the meeting of the Advisory Council on the Environment.
Reporter: You said that the tax would not be used mainly for tax purposes. Will it be used for environmental purposes?
Secretary for the Environment: The whole purpose of having an environmental levy on plastic shopping bags is not for revenue purposes. It is one of the ways to reduce the indiscriminate use of plastic shopping bags, which are in volume ending up in our landfills. So we have today got very wide support from the Advisory Council on the Environment that this is the right way that the Government should proceed. So, with public support and support from the Council, we would start looking at how to put together a bill for introduction to Legco. Obviously this is more than just plastic bags because this is one of the kick-off projects for implementing the concept of producer responsibility with a view to reducing the amount of waste and the volume ending up in our landfills.
Reporter: Will the tax be used for environmental purposes?
Secretary for the Environment: The Government contributes significantly on the area of environmental protection. We do not use a tax or a levy to raise revenue on this aspect. The purpose of this levy is essentially to change the behaviour, curbing indiscriminate use of plastic shopping bags. So this is not for the purpose of revenue.
Reporter: When is the earliest time that the legislation will be enforced?
Secretary for the Environment: Well, obviously we have to look at the drafting and we have to look at the discussion with Legco. What we are hoping is to secure good support from Legco and of course essential to that is an overall general understanding from the public, support from various sectors and today's support from the Advisory Council is a very good milestone.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of SEN's remarks)
Ends/Monday, September 10, 2007
Issued at HKT 19:09
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