Deputy Chief Secretary Warner Cheuk said on Saturday that the proposed raising of penalties for littering and illegal shop extensions may come into effect in mid-2023.

The government has proposed doubling the fine for littering to HK$3,000 and raising penalties for illegal shop extensions and depositing construction waste unlawfully from HK$1,500 to HK$6,000.

Speaking on a radio programme, Cheuk said the penalties for illegal shop extensions are not cumulative, in the sense that they become higher for repeat offences, but that he believed the higher penalties would help to improve the situation.

"Our current proposal of fining HK$6,000 for each contravention of those offences carries some deterrent effect," he told reporters. "If they repeat the offence on the same day, they can get not just one fixed penalty, but several fixed penalties, so the cost of non-compliance can be very high."

Cheuk said officials may consider setting up a cumulative penalty system for illegal shop extensions in the future, but that it would require a data system which may need more time and cost to execute.

He added that the situation had already improved after officers strengthened law enforcement.

Meanwhile, Cheuk said the authorities would continue to monitor other environmental issues as well, and give out fines for failing to control mice and cockroaches.