Survey on the Public’s Perceptions of Environmental Protection in Hong Kong

Ms Karie Pang

HKU POP Assistant Director

8 July 2010

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The University of Hong KongPublic Opinion Programme

Survey objectives: to understand the public’s concerns and attitudes towards environmental protection, bottled water drinking and handling methods

The survey questionnaire is designed by HKU POP independently after consultation with Bonaqua. All of the operation, data collection and analysis are conducted by POP independently. POP is solely responsible for the survey results

The survey method and results will be available for the public to review

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SURVEY BACKGROUND

SAMPLING OVERVIEW

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Survey Period 9-14 June 2010

Methodology Telephone survey with interviewers working under close supervision

Survey Target Cantonese-speaking Hong Kong citizens of age 15-49

Survey Institute Public Opinion Programme at the University of Hong Kong

Sample Size 508 successful cases

Effective Response Rate

71.5% (Calculation based on the number of qualified targets)

Standard Sampling Error

Less than 2.2 percentage points. In other words, the sampling error for all percentages was less than plus/minus 4.5percentage points at 95% confidence level.

SURVEY RESULTS

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People’s concerns and attitudes towards environmental protection

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73% of respondents said that they are concerned about environmental protection

6(Base=508)Q1 To what extent are you concerned about environmental protection?

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Over 90% of respondents agreed that environmental protection is everyone’s responsibility

(Base=508) Q2 Please let me know to what extent do you agree with the following statements?

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(Base=508)Q7 Do you think you have done enough yourself to protect the environment so far?

Only 20% of respondents said they have done enough themselves to protect the environment

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Respondents’ perception towards environmental protection

(Bases=507-508) Q3-Q6 Please let me know to what extent do you agree with the following statements?

(Base=507)

(Base=507)

(Base=508)

(Base=508)

Knowledge ofcarbon footprint

10

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Less than 30% of respondents said they know about carbon footprint, nearly half of the respondent said they do not know

about carbon footprint but are interested in getting to know more about it

(Base=508)Q8 Do you know what “carbon footprint” is? (If the interviewee says no, please ask him/her: Do you want to know more about carbon footprint?)

12(Base=507)(No matter the interviewee wants to know or not, interviewer please read this out: “Carbon footprint” is a measurement for both direct and indirect greenhouse gases emission in our daily life, e.g., carbon dioxide and carbon emission, and their impact on global warming. ) Q9 Do you think it’s easy to buy environmentally friendly products in Hong Kong, such as products creating less carbon footprint?

Over 60% of respondents thought that it is not easy to buy products that create less carbon footprint in Hong Kong

Bottled-water drinking habits and disposal practice

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14(Base =508)Q10 How often do you drink bottled-water? Refillable bottled water is not included. (Remarks: drink at least one bottle each day= daily drinker; drink 1-6 bottles each week= weekly drinker; drink 2-3 bottles each month= bi-monthly drinker; drink one bottle each month= monthly drinker; drink less than one bottle each month= infrequent drinker; have never drunk bottled water= non drinker)

Over 90% of respondents drink bottled water, over 40% of them drink at least one bottle every two weeks.

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%

Don't know/ difficult to tell

Others

To ensure the quality and safety of the water

It's a gift (e.g. at the gas station)

I don't have other choice when I'm out

I forgot to bring my own water and I need to drink water

It's convenient when you are out

To relieve my thirst instantly

1%

3%

2%

3%

7%

14%

36%

50%

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(Base=465 ， can choose more than one option)Q11 (To ask bottled-water drinker only) Why do you buy bottled water for consumption?

Half of bottled water drinkers stated the need to quench

their thirst is the main reason to buy bottled water

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(Base=464)Q12 To ask bottled-water drinker only) If you need to trash the bottle when you are out, where do you usually dispose them?

(Base=156 ， can choose more than one option)Q13 (To ask respondent picking trash bin in Q12) Why do you throw them into the trash bin?

Almost half of the bottled water drinkers would throw the plastic bottle into the recycling bin

Over 90% of respondents agreed that environmental protection is everyone’s responsibility. However, only 20% of the respondents said they have done enough to protect the environment.

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SUMMARY

What do people in Hong Kong think about environmental protection? About 80% of the respondents agreed that environmental protection means sacrificing certain enjoyment. About 70% of respondents said that environmental protection needs the cooperation of different parties and there is not much one can do.

Over 60% of respondents said that it is difficult to purchase environmentally friendly products for daily living in Hong Kong. Another 60% said that environmentally friendly products are more expensive and will increase the living cost. About 60% of respondents thought that environmental protection involves changing personal habits and causes inconvenience.

So, how do citizens usually dispose the plastic bottle after consumption? Almost half of respondents said that they would throw it into the recycling bin. More than 30% of respondents would throw it into a regular rubbish bin mainly because they don’t know or they rarely see a recycling bin; it’s their habit and they think it is inconvenient to carry around a used bottled water.