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FS visits biomedical firm in UK

Financial Secretary Paul Chan yesterday visited a biopharmaceutical company and the Royal College of Art, and attended a lunch hosted by the China-Britain Business Council, as part of his ongoing trip to London.   Mr Chan visited AstraZeneca and met the company’s senior management to learn about its drug research and development activities, as well as its latest expansion plans.   AstraZeneca indicated that following in-depth talks with Hong Kong’s Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises, it plans to develop a research and development centre in Hong Kong and will engage in further discussion with relevant government departments on the matter.   The Financial Secretary then attended a roundtable luncheon held by the China-Britain Business Council, and met representatives of British enterprises that do business, or plan to do business, either in the Mainland or Hong Kong.   Mr Chan later visited the Royal College of Art, which collaborated with the Hong Kong Polytechnic Unive
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Views sought on plastic bottle plan

The Environmental Protection Department today released a consultation paper on the Producer Responsibility Scheme on Plastic Beverage Containers (PPRS) for the proper management of waste plastic bottles.   The consultation period will last for three months until May 21.   The Government recently announced the Waste Blueprint for Hong Kong 2035, which sets out the strategies, goals and measures to tackle the challenge of waste management, and to promote a circular economy and green living environment.   As one of the key waste reduction measures, the proposed scheme requires stakeholders to share the environmental responsibilities of collecting and treating plastic beverage containers to minimise their impact on the environment, the department said.   In line with the polluter pays principle, the scheme proposed a recycling levy to be collected at the beverage supplier level, including manufacturers and importers, to help recover the operation costs of the scheme.   It has been suggested that certain retail stores selling plastic-bottled beverages serve as collection points so that people can return used plastic beverage containers.   These containers will then be supplied to local recyclers so they can turn them into marketable recycled materials.   Furthermore, the proposed scheme will include rebates to encourage people to return used plastic beverage containers.   The public can submit views through the dedicated website, or by email, post or fax to the department during the consultation period.   Meanwhile, the department has rolled out a one-year Reverse Vending Machine Pilot Scheme to test the application of the machines in recovering plastic beverage containers.   Under the pilot scheme, 60 reverse vending machines will be set up in phases at locations such as public places and government facilities to collect used plastic beverage containers.   The machines provide an instant rebate of $0.1 through e-payment platforms for each plastic beverage container returned. Each e-payment platform account will allow the return of up to 30 plastic beverage containers a day.   The public can also choose to donate the rebate, with no daily limit, to designated charities.   At present, 40 machines are in service, with the remaining 20 to be available soon.   For enquiries and views on the reverse vending machines, call 9488 0277 or send an email.
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