A Head for Plastic Bags

Reports of Hong Kong’s demise of plastic bags have been greatly overestimated. Despite the recent introduction of an insignificant government levy (HK50 cents or US6 cents) on plastic bags, this picture taken last week illustrates why plastic bags remain indispensable in Hong Kong.


There have been many letters and commentaries in the media chiding the environmentally-unfriendly practices of HongKongers. But the sad truth is Hong Kong people like using plastic bags due to their versatility. Other than for their main purpose of carrying items, plastic bags are also used as trash bags, bin liners and seat mats. The wearing of plastic bags to keep dry one’s head of hair during rainstorms is probably the main (and hitherto unmentioned) reason why HongKongers will never relinquish using plastic bags!