More than 2,600 qualified Hong Kong retail outlets had registered under the environmental levy scheme on plastic shopping bags, which will come into effect on July 7 in Hong Kong, a government official said here Wednesday.

Hong Kong Secretary for the Environment Edward Yau visited a Japanese department store Wednesday to see how retailers are preparing for the scheme.

He said that up to Tuesday, more than 2,600 qualified retail outlets had registered under the scheme, representing about 95 percent of the registration applications received.

"I am impressed by the concerted efforts of retailers and their staff to help make the scheme work," Yau said after touring the consignment counters and the supermarket in the department store.

Under the scheme, registered retailers are required to charge customers a 50-cent environmental levy for each plastic shopping bag provided, for which they have to keep records and submit returns and payments to the Environmental Protection Department on a quarterly basis.

Prescribed retailers include major and chain supermarkets, convenience stores, personal health and beauty stores, and department stores.

Yau said he was pleased to see that posters were put up inside the department store and stickers and tent cards were placed at the cashier counters to make it easier for customers to know about the levy for each plastic shopping bag that they ask for.

Under the Product Eco-responsibility Ordinance and the Product Eco-responsibility (Plastic Shopping Bags) Regulation, consignment counters of a third party business operation within a registered retail outlet are exempted from the levy. Exemption stickers will be posted in the vicinity of the consignment areas for easy identification by customers.

"The levy scheme provides a direct economic incentive to discourage the indiscriminate use of plastic shopping bags. People are encouraged to take their own bags at all times to avoid the levy," Yau said.

(Xinhua News Agency June 24, 2009)