Green team: Secretary for the Environment Edward Yau officiates at the scheme's pre-commencement ceremony.

The environmental levy scheme on plastic shopping bags will commence on July 7, Secretary for the Environment Edward Yau says. He calls on shoppers to make Hong Kong green by bringing their own bags.

Officiating at the scheme's pre-commencement ceremony at East Point City, Tseung Kwan O today, he said the scheme provides a direct economic incentive to discourage the indiscriminate use of plastic shopping bags.

Under the scheme, registered retailers must charge customers a 50-cent environmental levy for providing a plastic shopping bag with handle. Prescribed retailers include major and chain supermarkets, convenience stores, personal health and beauty stores, and supermarkets inside department stores.

"More and more people in Hong Kong now bring their own shopping bags and use fewer plastic shopping bags as they know more about the importance of the environment to the future of Hong Kong," Mr Yau said.

Under Secretary for the Environment Dr Kitty Poon today also distributed magnets carrying publicity messages to foreign domestic helpers in Central.