More officials, body cameras to help tackle littering
More government officers are set to be given the power to issue people with fines for littering, with some given body cameras to catch offenders in the act. Legco is looking at plans to double the penalty for littering to HK$3,000, along with a four-fold increase in the fine for illegal dumping, to HK$6,000. Undersecretary for Environment and Ecology Diane Wong told lawmakers at a meeting on Tuesday that officers from the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) will in future be allowed to issue fines for littering, in addition to those from departments such as the police and Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD). Also under the plans, staff from the FEHD, Housing Department, Leisure and Cultural Services Department and the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department will be able to start helping the police and EPD punish people involved in illegal dumping. "[This is] to reduce inter-departmental referrals because the relevant officers on the scene will be able to issue a fixed penalty ticket on detection of the offence," Wong said. She said FEHD staff will be equipped with body cameras like those worn by the police, for better evidence collection in case of disputes. The government plans to table the relevant law changes to Legco in the middle of the year.