【原文】摘錄自4月13日香港《文匯報》：管制即棄膠餐具和其他塑膠產品的相關法例於本月22日開始實施。環保署表示，部分商戶已率先推行「走塑」，顯示社會具有相當的環保意識。「走塑」涉及範圍廣，政府要持續監察，確保新措施不會使市民感到不便，運用好措施實施後的首6個月適應期，加強宣傳教育，用寬鬆手法令業界盡快適應，推進「走塑」政策平穩落實。
「走塑」議題在香港社會討論多年，市民大都明白，塑膠垃圾不易降解，有害環境生態和人類健康，對減少使用即棄塑膠有共識。如今飲食界和酒店業對「走塑」措施反應積極，署方已實地走訪20,000間中小食肆，發現有21%已經轉用非塑膠餐具，部分食肆已經開始尋找替代品。大型連鎖食肆大部分都已轉用替代品或準備於實施日起轉用，亦有愈來愈多中小型食肆查詢或訂購非塑膠餐具。至於酒店方面，業界人士表示認為，只要宣傳做得好，相信新措施不會令入住酒店的旅客減少。這些都對社會起了正面示範作用。
首階段「走塑」措施，政府將首6個月設為適應期，不會對違規業務進行執法，讓商戶和消費者習慣。環保署署長徐浩光表示：「條例不針對一般市民，只是從供應方面控制，市民無須擔心。我們會繼續協助業界適應新法例的要求，亦呼籲市民減少使用即棄塑膠產品，將『走塑、走即棄』的文化融入日常生活之中。」
長期以來，食肆外賣常用即棄塑膠餐具，要轉用環保餐具，或者要求客人自備餐具，的確需要一些時間調整運作。環保署表示，會在適應期初期安排人員主動巡視本港20,000間餐飲食肆及20,000間零售店和酒店賓館，集中宣傳教育工作。社會都希望，新措施既可推動環保，又可便民，大家都希望環保署能貫徹教育宣傳工作，使商戶、市民深入了解新政策，積極配合。本港十多年前開始實施膠袋收費，經過一段適應期後，如今市民都習慣自備購物袋，市民的消費習慣逐漸改變。相信實施「走塑」措施後，市民和商戶亦會漸漸適應。
曾經有食肆聲稱，環保餐具每套成本比塑膠餐具高逾一半至一倍，認為難免要將成本轉嫁消費者。不過，環保署邀請了餐具及酒店用品供應商解說和示範，所有非塑膠產品，成本不高而且耐用，釋除了大家的疑慮。目前環保署委聘香港品質保證局設立「綠色餐具平台」，內有環保餐具供應商和產品資訊，方便食肆選購，貨比三家，必可選出性價比相宜的餐具，商戶無須因「走塑」而加價轉嫁成本。
「走塑」措施順應環保大勢，香港社會文明高度發達，大眾普遍積極響應環保，相信「走塑」可暢順推行，進一步提升本港社會整體環保意識。
Setting an adaptation period for the smooth implementation of "plastic-free" measures
【譯文】The legislation on the regulation of disposable plastic tableware and other plastic products comes into effect on the 22nd of this month. According to the Environmental Protection Department (EPD), some traders have already taken the lead in implementing the "plastic-free" initiative, which demonstrates that the community has a high level of environmental awareness. As "plastic-free" involves a wide range of issues, the Government has to continue to monitor the situation to ensure that the new measures will not inconvenience the public. It should also make good use of the first six months' adaptation period after the implementation of the measure, step up publicity and education, and adopt a relaxed approach to facilitate the trade's adaptation as soon as possible, so as to promote the smooth implementation of "plastic-free" policy.
The "plastic-free" issue has been discussed in the Hong Kong community for many years. Most citizens understand that plastic waste is not easily degradable and is harmful to the environment and human health, and have reached a consensus on reducing the use of disposable plastics. The catering and hospitality industries have responded positively to the "plastic-free" initiative. The EPD has visited 20,000 small and medium-sized restaurants and found that 21% of them have already switched to non-plastic tableware, and some restaurants have already started to look for alternatives. Most large chain restaurants have switched to alternatives or are prepared to do so from the implementation date, and more and more small and medium-sized restaurants have enquired about or ordered non-plastic tableware. As for hotels, members of the trade expressed the view that as long as the publicity was well done, the new measure would not lead to a decrease in the number of guests staying in hotels. All these have set a positive example for the community.
For the first phase of the "plastic-free" initiative, the Government has designated the first six months as an adaptation period, during which no enforcement action will be taken against non-compliant businesses, so that traders and consumers can get used to the "plastic-free" measures. Dr Samuel Chui, the Director of EPD, said, "The regulation does not target the general public, but only controls the supply side. We will continue to assist the trade to adapt to the requirements of the new legislation and call on the public to reduce the use of disposable plastic products and incorporate the ‘plastic-free' and ‘disposable-free' culture into their daily lives."
For a long time, restaurants have often used disposable plastic tableware for takeaways. It will take some time to switch to environmentally friendly tableware or to ask customers to bring their own tableware. The EPD stated that it will arrange for staff to actively inspect 20,000 catering restaurants and 20,000 retail outlets and hotels in Hong Kong at the beginning of the adaptation period, focusing on publicity and education work. The public hope that the new measures can promote environmental protection and convenience. Everyone hopes that the EPD can carry out educational and promotional work to help businesses and citizens deeply understand the new policies and actively cooperate. More than a decade ago, Hong Kong began to charge for plastic bags. After a period of adaptation, citizens are now accustomed to bringing their own shopping bags, and consumer habits have gradually changed. It is believed that after the implementation of "plastic-free" measures, citizens and businesses will gradually adapt too.
Some restaurants once claimed that the cost of each set of environmentally friendly tableware was more than half to double that of plastic tableware, and they thought it would be inevitable to pass the cost on to consumers. However, the EPD has invited suppliers of tableware and hotel supplies to explain and demonstrate that all non-plastic products are cost-effective and durable, thus allaying people's concerns. The EPD has currently commissioned the Hong Kong Quality Assurance Agency to set up a "Green Tableware Platform", which contains information on suppliers and products of green tableware, making it convenient for restaurants to make comparisons and choose tableware with a reasonable cost-performance ratio, so that traders do not need to shift costs to consumers as a result of the "plastic-free" policy.
The "plastic-free" measures are in line with the general trend of environmental protection. Hong Kong is a highly civilised society and the public generally responds positively to environmental protection. It is believed that "plastic-free" measures can be smoothly implemented, further enhancing the overall environmental awareness of the Hong Kong community. ◆ Tiffany
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