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Following is the transcript (English portion) of remarks made by the Secretary for the Environment, Mr Edward Yau, at a media session after visiting a department store in Cityplaza, Tai Koo Shing this afternoon (June 24):
Reporter: Could you tell us the preparation leading up to July 7?
SEN: July 7 will mark a milestone for Hong Kong's greener city life because from that day onwards, we will introduce a plastic shopping bag levy on certain plastic bags. To make life easier for everyone, we have stepped up a lot of publicity with the supermarkets and shopping chains whereby they will get prepared to collect this levy on behalf of the Government. On the other hand, we will also do publicity for consumers so that when they see this sign, they will need to pay 50 cents for a plastic shopping bag. There will be clear indication in retail outlets for such levy to be imposed. Most important of all, they will mark the beginning of a green city life where people can save, not just the 50 cents, but also minimise the abuse of many plastic shopping bags that end up in our landfills.
Reporter:… the levy…
SEN: In department stores where they have supermarket as well as other outlet area, there are exempted areas whereby there will be signs to tell customers that those are the areas that will be exempted from this levy. So the most important point to the consumers is to recognise this label where they can see very clearly where they need to pay.
(Please refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript)
Ends/Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Issued at HKT 19:53
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