Hong Kong people will have to do a lot more in cutting down usage and disposal of plastic bags and utensils for the sake of the city's environment. Provided to China Daily Hong Kong people, especially the younger generation, talk all the time about the need to protect the environment in this city of seven million. But, they're willing to sacrifice very little in doing that. Take plastic waste for instance. Every day in Hong Kong, hundreds of thousands of styrofoam lunch boxes, along with plastic-coated cups and plastic straws, are discarded. They mostly end up in landfills that will become part of the land reclaimed from the sea. Tons of meat, vegetables and fish are transported in large styrofoam cartons that are dumped onto the streets or in the sea after use. Pieces of these offensive white plastics can be seen at all times floating on the murky waters near the fish market in Aberdeen typhoon shelter. There is a law requiring vendors to charge customers for one-use plastic bags. But, the charge, at 50 Hong Kong cents (about 6 US cents) apiece is too insignificant for most shoppers to care about. While most other major world cities, including New York, London and Shanghai, are passing stricter and stricter laws to cut down the use of plastic materials, Hong Kong is sitting tight doing precious little other than complaining. Some city authorities have banned the use of plastic straws which have long been the target of environmentalists. Discarded plastic straws, which usually end up in the ocean, are listed by environmental groups as one of the top 10 waste items found on beaches. Coffee and tea cups have also been targeted by environmentalists, prompting some coffee outlets like Starbucks in some cities to charge customers a fee for using disposal cups. They also try to offer discounts for customers who bring their own reusable cups. Do Hong Kong people care? Certainly not the fast-food joints which continue to provide customers with one-use plastic utensils, cups and straws. They also cater to many take-away customers who have no qualms about throwing away the styrofoam containers and plastic utensils after consuming their lunch or dinner. Any proposal to restrict the use of plastics would trigger a storm of protests from the powerful business groups who would object to anything that could be seen to add to their costs. Consumers will have to take the initiative to reject the use of disposable plastics for the sake of the environment. paper wristbands for eventsjordan wristbandwristband keychain202mm to inches
President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, visits the site of an imperial fort on Tuesday at Liugong Island in Weihai, Shandong province. Xi called for boosting maritime sectors during his tour in the province. Li Xueren / Xinhua Independence highlighted in ocean science President Xi Jinping has called for building up a strong maritime country, urging solid efforts to develop the marine economy. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the call on Tuesday during an inspection tour in Qingdao, where he chaired the 18th Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit during the weekend. Building up a strong maritime country is a long-cherished belief I hold, Xi said on Tuesday as he visited a pilot national laboratory of marine science and technology in Qingdao, Xinhua News Agency reported. Xi said developing the marine economy and conducting research in marine sciences are important parts of the nation's strategy of rejuvenation, adding that all-out efforts shall be made in this regard. Calling the marine economy promising, Xi stressed key technologies will be developed through the nation's independent effort. He encouraged researchers to contribute more to the country. At the laboratory, he learned more about major cutting-edge science, the independent research and development of high-end marine equipment and promotion of military-civilian integration. Guan Huashi, an academician at the Chinese Academy of Engineering, spoke with Xi about the research and development of medicine using biological resources from the sea. Xi said the marine economy and marine technology will be a key direction in the future. Many unexplored areas of study remain, leaving great potential for development, he added. Guan said his dream is to build China's blue drugstore. Xi told Guan, We share the same dream. China is pursuing coordinated land and marine development, a national strategy adopted by the 19th CPC National Congress. As a hub of the modern marine economy, Qingdao has 18 research institutes and 34 high-level research and development facilities for marine sciences and technologies. It also is home to nearly 33 percent of China's top professionals in these fields, said Zhang Jiangting, Party chief of Qingdao. At a residential community in Qingdao's Licang district, Xi was greeted by local residents at a community canteen. He talked with them, asked about the quality and price of food and learned about their livelihood. Xi also traveled to Liugong Island in Weihai, another coastal city in the province, where he visited the site of a Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) fort and the Museum of the First Sino-Japanese War (1894-95). Historical lessons should be remembered to encourage all Chinese people to strive for progress with determination, Xi said.
