Chief Executive John Lee on Tuesday called on people to give the government time to test the city's planned waste charging scheme at selected locations before it decides the way forward for the policy.

At his weekly media stand-up, Lee said Deputy Chief Secretary Warner Cheuk will lead an inter-departmental working group to monitor and assess how the "pay-as-you-throw" scheme is implemented at 14 venues starting from April.

The CE said separate teams will take note of any problems arising from the initiative, as well as feedback from stakeholders at the trial locations.

Authorities hope to report the test results to Legco in May or June before moving the policy forward, Lee added.

"Since it is already the law, the government has to think of a serious way of going forward [for the policy]. But we also are willing to listen to views, and we will pragmatically design the way forward as we go through the exercise and learn from the experience, and also after listening to the opinions of the players and of society at large," he said.

The scheme, which has been delayed twice, is scheduled to come into effect in August.

Lee stressed the need to meet people's needs and serve society's interests.

"A government trying to do a job to ensure it will be smoothly carried out, taking heed of public opinions, creates credibility for the government," he said.