又中又英｜Hue and cry

How many Hong Kong people separate their recyclables from their garbage? I wondered about this after the government's plan to charge for garbage disposal raised a public hue and cry. A new law requires the public to buy specially designed bags costing from 30 cents to $11 depending on size in which to put their garbage. The hue and cry began when the government announced the law, which the legislature approved in 2021, will kick in on April 1. The government said the kick in will be delayed to August 1 after many people said they could not understand how the pay-as-you-throw plan works.

To raise a hue and cry means to cause a noisy expression of disapproval or anger. If something kicks in, it means it comes into effect. The expression "pay-as-you-throw" means to pay for what you throw away. Many countries charge for garbage disposal and require households to separate garbage from recyclables. Paying for garbage disposal encourages people to reduce waste, which helps to protect the environment. Recycling also protects the environment. Hong Kong people need to understand it is their civic duty to do both. Will some people misunderstand the purpose of the specially designed garbage bags and put recyclables into them too or buy extra bags for recyclables?

The government said it will use the coming months to further explain how the pay-as-you-throw plan works. I think officials should use the coming months to make clear the pay-as-you-throw bags are not for recyclables. They should also do far more to urge people to recycle because they have done a lousy job so far.

有多少香港人會從垃圾中分出回收物來？當政府計劃向垃圾棄置徵費，引起公眾激烈抗議（hue and cry）後，我就不禁思忖以上這道問題。新法例要求公眾購買指定設計的膠袋去棄置垃圾，膠袋價錢根據尺寸大小，由3毫至11元不等。當政府宣布這條於2021年獲立法會通過的法例，將於4月1日開始生效（kick in）時，公眾的大聲抗議（hue and cry）便不絕於耳。當許多人說他們並不明白這個垃圾按量收費（pay-as-you-throw）計劃是如何運作後， 政府便指計劃開始生效（kick in）日期將會延至8月1日。

To raise a hue and cry是指大聲吶喊以表達反對或者憤怒。若某事物kicks in，那即是它開始推行。習語"pay-as-you-throw"是指你丟棄多少就付多少費用。許多國家都有就垃圾棄置徵費，亦要求各家各戶做好垃圾和回收分類。為自己所棄置的垃圾付費，可以鼓勵人們減少製造廢物，從而保護環境。回收也能保護環境。香港人需要明白，做這兩件事是他們的公民責任。會不會有些人誤會了指定垃圾袋的用途，連回收物也放在內？又或者，去為回收物額外購置膠袋？

政府說，它會用接下來的幾個月，進一步解釋這個垃圾按量收費（pay-as-you-throw）是如何運作的。我認為，官員們好應利用這幾個月，清楚指明這個按量收費（pay-as-you-throw）的垃圾袋並非用來盛載回收物的。他們也應該更落力，勸籲市民回收，因為到目前為止他們的表現實在太不堪了。

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Michael Chugani褚簡寧
中譯：七刻