People will be fined HK$3,000 for littering starting from late October, after lawmakers passed a bill on Wednesday to double the penalty.

The idea for stricter deterrents was first raised by Chief Executive John Lee in his maiden policy address last year.

The fines for illegal shop extensions and dumping construction waste unlawfully will also be raised from the current HK$1,500 to HK$6,000.

Environment chief Tse Chin-wan said the new law will be gazetted later this month, and the new fines will come into effect on October 22.

Tse noted that some lawmakers have expressed concern that the heftier fines would affect small business owners, but he said one of the top hygiene issues of concern is the blockage of streets by illegal shop extensions.