Mainland Chinese tourists in Hong Kong complain about hotel charges for toiletries packed in plastic after ban on throwaway items comes into force

05/05/2024

Differences in prices and provision of plastic-packed toiletries and other items spark anger among some visitors from across border
Others say lack of items such as plastic tubes of toothpaste not visitor-friendly and appealed to hotel managers to better inform guests of changes

Mainland Chinese tourists have vented their anger on social media over differences in prices and provision of amenities in Hong Kong hotels after a single-use plastics ban came into effect, with some accusing operators of “profiteering”.

Other tourists found the lack of items such as plastic tubes of toothpaste and bottled water in some hotels not visitor-friendly and appealed to management to better inform guests of the changes in advance so they would not be caught off guard.

But sector representatives defended the new arrangements and insisted any price increases were because of the cost of alternatives. They added that hotels were obliged to comply with the new rules on throwaway plastics.

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mainland chinese tourists in hong kong complain about hotel charges for toiletries packed in plastic after ban on throwaway items comes into force

Caspar Tsui, the executive director of the Federation of Hong Kong Hotel Owners, says hotels are only complying with Hong Kong law over the removal of plastic-packaged toiletries. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

Prohibited items included plastic toothbrushes, small bottles of toiletries and water in plastic bottles.

Hotels and guest houses can offer non-plastic alternatives or charge guests for items in plastic containers. But the law did not set restrictions on prices.

A Post comparison more than 10 days after the ban started found some city hotels required guests to buy toothpaste, combs, shower caps and razors, among other items, at different price ranges.

Some others offered alternatives free of charge.

The five-star Grand Hyatt hotel in Wan Chai had glass bottles of water and wood toothbrushes for guests.

But it charged HK$15 (US$2) for a 50-gram (1.8 ounce) toothpaste tube. Shower caps cost HK$5 and razors HK$50 each.

The luxury Peninsula hotel still provided guests with plastic toothbrushes, toothpaste in plastic tubes, as well as shaving kits and shower caps free on request, as operators have a six-month grace period to complete the changeover.

Hong Kong Disneyland had different arrangements for its three hotels, its website said. The Disney Explorers Lodge and Disney’s Hollywood Hotel provide fixed shower gel, shampoo and water dispensers.

But guests that need toiletries have to buy a set that includes almost everything such as adult and children toothbrushes, a comb, razor, shower cap and cotton buds at HK$40.

At the Hong Kong Disneyland hotel, however, most of the items remained covered and guests are only required to buy razor and shower cap if needed.

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Some budget hotels favoured by mainland tourists charge an average of HK$5 to HK$8 for a bottle of water and HK$5 to HK$9 for a razor and HK$2 to HK$10 for a comb.

“After all, it’s just a business,” one tourist from the mainland wrote on the Instagram-like Xiaohongshu.

“Hotels act as if they’re environmentally friendly, but they charge for things that were originally free.”

Another visitor asked: “Have these costs been deducted from the room price if they don’t even provide toothpaste?

“If not, isn’t it just making profits in the name of environmental protection?”

A mainland tourist who stayed at the Nathan Hotel in Yau Ma Tei, said in a post that was widely shared that she was “shocked” to see toothpaste inside a paper container.

“I was totally surprised this time,” the visitor said. “The traces of plastic are really invisible.

“Even my toothbrush handle and toothpaste container are made of paper.”

The visitor also discussed a biodegradable shower cap provided free and said the quality was not bad.

Her post received more than 5,000 likes and 1,300 comments in less than four days.

Another mainlander, who uploaded the price list for Hyatt Regency in Tsim Sha Tsui on Xiaohongshu, said the hotel had stopped providing free toothpaste.

The tourist added that guests could buy a 20-gram tube at HK$8, the same as the price of one shower cap, a small toothbrush, a shaving kit, bath salts, ear plugs, eye mask, hair brush and other items.

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But she said the charges were acceptable, although she told others travelling to Hong Kong to bring their own toiletries.

“It is impossible for everyone to be satisfied with the implementation of new regulations,” she wrote. “All we can do is to understand the latest situation and be fully prepared.

“The only item missing and affecting me was the toothpaste. This hotel still provides shower caps, slippers, shampoo, shower gel, body lotion and cotton buds.”

An Environmental Protection Department spokeswoman said the charges for amenities were business decisions.

She added hotels could not provide free plastic items under the law and the department did not require businesses to charge for alternatives.

“As sustainable tourism has been implemented worldwide for some time, I believe travellers are no strangers to the hotel industry’s ‘plastic-free’ initiatives,” she said.

The spokeswoman added that promotion of the ban had been stepped up at border checkpoints.

Old-style toiletries packed in plastic have to disappear from hotels under Hong Kong’s new ban on throwaway plastics. Photo: Shutterstock

She said the department had also encouraged hotels to remind visitors about the ban when they booked rooms.

Caspar Tsui Ying-wai, the executive director of the Federation of Hong Kong Hotel Owners, said hotels were only complying with the law.

“The government should do more promotion to prevent tourists from getting the impression that hotels are charging them extra,” he added. “This might in the end jeopardise the reputation of the tourism industry.”

Tsui said the government should also help the sector find alternatives to plastic items, as some in the industry had said it was tough to find alternative shower caps, razors and toothpastes.

Perry Yiu Pak-leung, a tourism lawmaker, said he believed the hotel sector was still in a transitional stage in the sourcing of better and cheaper alternatives, especially items like razors, where it was hard to find non-plastic ones.

“The industry hopes in the long term all hotels could provide these alternatives for free too, instead of charging tourists, as that involves more administrative work,” he added.

“The government in the meantime can do more promotional work so that tourists can learn about the new ban and get themselves prepared before coming.”

Timothy Chui Ting-pong, the executive director of the Hong Kong Tourism Association, said it was up to the hotels to set prices for plastic-packaged items, but that he believed the ban had been implemented smoothly.