More than 10,000 retailers across Hong Kong must start charging customers 50 cents for each plastic shopping bag from today, to encourage consumers to bring their own and re-use them.
The charge is exempted for bags used to contain a food item that is unpackaged, contained in non-airtight packaging or in a frozen or chilled state, and those used for pre-packaging of goods.
Newspaper vendors must also charge customers 50 cents if they demand a bag.
Environmental Protection Department staff are visiting retail outlets to check that shopkeepers are complying with the new legal requirements.
This month, the staff will first give verbal warnings to retailers who ignore the new law, before taking enforcement action.
Retailers contravening the requirements may be liable to a $2,000 fixed penalty or even prosecution.
