According to a spokesperson for the Environmental Protection Department, the overall distribution of plastic shopping bags dropped by more than 60 percent from January to February this year compared to the same period last year, and the distribution of flat-top bags by major supermarket chains dropped by even more than 80 percent since the new levy was issued on December 31 last year.

Besides, the Department announced staff were deployed into Hong Kong’s 276,000 retailers - including about 142,000 market stalls - after implementing the new plastic bag levy to promote and introduce the new measure.

"The Department staff also inspected about 4,100 retail points and issued a total of seven verbal warnings, but no penalty was made," added the spokesperson.