The Kowloon Motor Bus' electric double-deck buses conduct a trail run in the vicinity of On Tat Estate in Kwun Tong, Hong Kong, July 27, 2023. (CALVIN NG / CHINA DAILY)

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is set to draw up more tailor-made strategies for the green transition in the road, sea and air transportation sectors from the first half of next year.

Laws will be optimized and regulations accelerated to hasten the construction of associated infrastructure, government officials said on Saturday.

In his second Policy Address on Oct 25, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu pledged to launch various green initiatives to help the city attain its carbon neutrality goal.

Secretary for Environment and Ecology Tse Chin-wan said green transition roadmaps for buses and taxis will be unveiled in the first half of 2024.

Fiscal incentives are also being considered to help public transportation operators and businesses purchase electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles. The aim is to build 200,000 chargers for electric vehicles in public and private venues by 2027. Relevant laws will be revised to allow gas stations to add chargers on their premises.

Tse said the government attaches great importance to using hydrogen to replace fossil fuels in achieving carbon neutrality. To promote the use of hydrogen-powered vehicles, laws and regulations will be reviewed for that purpose in 2025

Tse said the government attaches great importance to using hydrogen to replace fossil fuels in achieving carbon neutrality. To promote the use of hydrogen-powered vehicles, laws and regulations will be reviewed for that purpose in 2025.

But, there’re challenges to face in the wider use of hydrogen, such as safety concerns, supply and costs, all of which require collaboration between among the government and stakeholders in the future, he said.

The government also plans to extend energy-saving regulations to public infrastructure to enhance decarbonization in buildings.

As mentioned in this year’s Policy Address, the government will further extend its green transportation network by implementing smart and green mass transit solutions in East Kowloon, Kai Tak and the Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen area.

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Lam Sai-hung, secretary for transport and logistics, said suppliers and operators will be invited to submit letters of interest for projects in East Kowloon and Kai Tak next year.

The green agenda will be extended to sea and air transportation as well. Lam said the government will support Hong Kong International Airport – one of the world’s busiest aviation hubs — to become a base for using sustainable aviation fuel — liquid fuel that can largely reduce carbon emissions. The Airport Authority will formulate an action plan to encourage non-local air carriers to such fuel in the SAR.

The authorities will also study the feasibility of providing green methanol bunkering for local and ocean-going vessels, Lam said.

Representatives of 15 member cities of the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group — a global network of mayors committed to connecting cities around the world to tackle the climate crisis — gathered in Hong Kong on Oct 27 for a seminar organized by the Environment and Ecology Bureau.

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Tse told the conference a series of steps have been revealed in the Policy Address to help Hong Kong explore opportunities created by new green technologies, and attain carbon neutrality before 2050.

The seminar is a concurrent event of the Eco Expo Asia 2023. The four-day annual fair features global green solutions, technologies, services and products, while promoting international collaboration in environmental protection.