HK Government Doesn't Entertain Benefits of Reusable Cups

So far, Kai Tak Sports Park will be using single-use cups

The Hong Kong government prefers using single-use cups at Kai Tak Sports Park, saying reusable plastic ones will "undermine" efforts to promote carbon reduction and resource recycling.

Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law Shuk-pui said that research by the park's operator compared local and overseas practices showed that using reusable plastic cups in Hong Kong would generate more carbon emissions and consume more resources.

But environmental NGO Greenpeace Hong Kong called on the authorities to consider using reusable plastic cups for sporting events like the upcoming Hong Kong Football Festival, and urged Law to look at other international sports organisations like the English Premier League, where 65 percent of clubs use reusable cups.

Reusable cups used at HK Sevens since 2019

However Law was not to be persuaded.

"As reusable plastic containers are not biodegradable, they do not support the plastic-free initiative and undermine Kai Tak Sports Park's efforts in promoting carbon reduction and resource circulation," she said.

"In contrast, the use of biodegradable paper cups aligns well with and makes good use of the above-mentioned waste decomposition system at Kai Tak Sports Park, leading to a better overall carbon reduction outcome."

May we point out that single-use paper cups would not decompose because they have a plastic lining on the paper so that liquids don't soak through it? Not to mention how much garbage it creates after each event?

It has been demonstrated that reusable cups at sporting events make much more sense.

A marathoner named Kristina Smithe took part in a marathon in California in 2019 and was horrified thinking about how much waste paper cups generated in one race. She calculated with 9,000 runners, some 150,000 paper cups were used once and then thrown away.

Smithe with her reusable silicon cups at a race

She went about designing a lightweight, pliable silicone cup that could be reused many times. In 2021 she launched Hiccup Earth, where she rents out 70,000 silicone cups to race organisers. 

Smithe drops off the cups by the thousand, collects them after and then washes them in her proprietary dishwasher that uses less water than a household dishwasher. 

While it's a bit more expensive to rent these cups, there is much less garbage accumulated and wouldn't people feel better using these reusable cups?

It was a proven concept at the Hong Kong Sevens in March. Greenpeace noted the sporting event used reusable cups from 2019 to 2024 and saw a 90 percent return rate of the containers.

Surely it's not too hard to implement at sporting events and concerts?

Coldplay Chris Martin's Tips on Battling Depression

Some 200,000 attended the Coldplay concerts in Hong Kong

A few days ago my Instagram feed was flooded with videos and pictures from friends (seemed like all of them!) attending Coldplay "Music of the Spheres" concerts that were held at the new Kai Tak Sports Park for four nights.

In total about 200,000 people attended. Everyone seemed to be having a great time, dancing and singing their hearts out to the music, and flashing lights on their concert wristbands.

Martin's video giving tips at the HK harbourfront

However at least one person was working hard to fight his emotions -- Chris Martin, the frontman of Coldplay.

The band posted a video yesterday of him sitting on the ground by the harbourfront somewhere in Causeway Bay perhaps, wearing a toque to try to disguise himself a bit.

He first thanked fans for coming out to the concerts, but admitted he was a bit nervous, and then added he was battling depression.

"So I was going to tell you some things that have been helping me on tour and maybe some of them might be good for you too," Martin said.

His tips?

Free-form writing, where you write down your thoughts at the moment and then burn or throw them away;

Fans enjoyed the Coldplay concerts

Practice transcendental meditation;

Watch the 2023 drama Sing Sing;

Read a book on breathing techniques;

Listening to the music of electronic producer Jon Hopkins and London-based singer-songwriter Chloe Qisha.

"Those are some of the things that are helping me to stay grateful and happy to be alive," he said.