Author Archives: hksar gov

Attention TV/radio announcers: Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:      The Hong Kong Observatory has issued the Very Hot Weather Warning.      To prevent heat stroke, avoid pro… read more

     Police today (August 2) appealed to the public for information on a man who went missing in Wong Tai Sin.      Lam Bing-chor, aged 25, went missing after he left his residence in Choi Hung Estate yesterda… read more

     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) said today (August 2) the Producer Responsibility Scheme on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE), or in short WPRS, ran generally smoothly in the first two days of implementation. The WPRS covers air-conditioners, refrigerators, washing machines, televisions, computers, printers, scanners and monitors (collectively referred to as regulated electrical equipment, or REE).

     A spokesman for EPD said, “The new scheme runs generally smoothly in the first two days of implementation. The EPD has been closely monitoring the operation of the operator of the Government’s WEEE Treatment and Recycling Facility (WEEE‧PARK). To prepare for the implementation of the scheme, the operator has fully geared up and put in additional manpower to attain its performance pledge for collecting the used equipment from consumers three working days after receipt of the service request from the sellers. After reviewing the booking position of the operator for the coming days, we believe the operator has the capacity to fulfil this pledge. On this basis, consumers should be able to ask the sellers to arrange delivery of the new product and removal of a used equipment on the same day without the need to pay an extra fee to the sellers.”
 
     “For members of the public who do not purchase a new REE but have to dispose of a used REE, please call the recycling hotline 2676 8888 to make an appointment with the WEEE‧PARK operator for free collection. In this regard, the operator will make full use of its additional manpower to meet the service demand. Based on the current booking position, the operator is able to arrange collection of the used items in about a week after receipt of the collection request through the hotline,” the spokesman added.
 
     The EPD also appeals to members of the public to make full use of the free statutory removal service under the WPRS or the free collection service through the recycling hotline, and not to throw away any used REE at the refuse collection points. In case used REE are found at the refuse collection points, the EPD has worked with the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department to ensure proper handling and recycling of those items, which will not be delivered to the landfills or the refuse transfer stations.

     Meanwhile, with the commencement of the legislation, the EPD has commenced its enforcement efforts including inspections at shops suspected of breaching the law and which have not submitted applications. As at 4pm today, the EPD has conducted inspection at over 90 points of sales and the overall compliance situation is satisfactory.

     Among others, in following up a complaint received from a member of the public, the EPD has found a suspected case of non-compliance. The seller concerned is suspected of distributing REE to a consumer in the absence of a removal service plan (RSP) that has been endorsed by the EPD. The EPD is conducting investigation and will take enforcement actions as necessary.  According to the law, any person who contravenes this requirement is liable to a maximum fine of $100,000 on conviction. 

      A supplier of REE must also register with the EPD before distributing REE. Offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $100,000 on conviction.

      As at July 31, 2018 immediately before the commencement of the law, the EPD had received 2 562 applications for endorsement of RSP by REE sellers and 219 applications for registration as suppliers. As of today, the EPD has approved 1 843 and 183 applications respectively. Those cases that are still being processed were received in the week preceding the commencement of the law, including 38 RSP endorsement and 4 supplier registration applications received yesterday. The EPD will complete processing these applications as soon as possible.

     A set of questions and answers about the operation of the WPRS is at Annex. Members of the public can call the EPD’s dedicated hotline 2310 0223 if they have any questions or complaints on the implementation arrangement of the WPRS. read more

     Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for the Environment, Mr Wong Kam-sing, on the implementation of the Producer Responsibility Scheme on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment before attending a meeting with the Kwai Tsing District Council today (August 2):

Reporter: Mr Wong, there is only one contractor, Alba, collecting old items from households and collection time may take days. If citizens do not want to keep a bulky item like an old fridge at home for so long, they may need to pay to the sellers at extra cost for a speedier collection service. So, do you think the policy is adding burden to consumers?

Secretary for the Environment: We have to understand that similar policies around the world actually require the balancing of all the concerned factors. The idea is that, if one would like to buy a new appliance, he should have a certain plan in advance. Say, if he would like the new appliance to be delivered in three days after (the day of) purchase, then they can easily match their purchase plan with the free removal service on the same day. So, it is actually a kind of reasonable arrangement. 

Reporter: There is only one contractor handling all cases. Do you think it has enough capacity to handle all service requests in Hong Kong? 

Secretary for the Environment: Regarding the capacity, there are actually two aspects. Firstly is the end-of-pipe capacity. That means whether the facility has adequate recycling capacity. The chosen recycler by most of the retailers actually has a plant in the EcoPark. Their basic capacity can handle about half of the total concerned electronic waste (e-waste) in Hong Kong. So it’s good enough. At the same time, there are two other licensed operators and altogether they can handle all concerned e-waste in Hong Kong. In terms of end-of-pipe capacity, it should be enough. Actually, I want to add that currently not all the e-waste is taken for recycling. Some of them are in pretty good shape and they can be reused. The second aspect is about logistics, whether the operators have the capacity to take those old items from your home or premises to the plants. Actually this is quite flexible because operators can easily engage more logistic operators to cope with the situation. It’s a matter of choice that most retailers have chosen one licensed operator at present. Given this situation, the chosen operator has already beefed up its logistic capacity. The performance pledge of “T+3” free removal service (collecting the waste equipment three working days after receipt of the service requests from the sellers) should be able to achieve by 100 per cent. 

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.) read more

     A girl who went missing in Wong Tai Sin has been located.      Lau Sum-yi, aged 14, went missing after she was last seen on Clear Water Bay Road on May 5 afternoon. Her social worker made a repo… read more