'Hydrogen as fuel to drive low-carbon future in HK'

The government on Monday said it hopes to promote hydrogen as a fuel in Hong Kong to help cut carbon emissions by half from its 2005 levels before 2035. The International Hydrogen Development Symposium is being held at the Convention and Exhibition Centre from Monday to Wednesday as a flagship event for Hydrogen Week. The three-day event gathers over 1,000 experts and participants from around the world. Speaking at the opening ceremony, Acting Secretary for Environment and Ecology Diane Wong noted the use of hydrogen fuel will soon be covered by comprehensive regulations. “Hydrogen used as fuel will be brought under the safety regulatory framework of the Gas Safety Ordinance," Wong said. "New subsidiary legislation on the regulation of hydrogen will be introduced into the Legislative Council for negative vetting within 2026, covering the importation, manufacture, storage, transport, supply, and use of hydrogen as fuel. "Our target is that the ordinance and the subsidiary legislation will come into effect on the same day." Thirty-seven hydrogen energy trial projects are underway or under preparation in Hong Kong, Wong said, adding that officials are also advancing hydrogen standards. “The Hong Kong SAR government commenced a dedicated study in August 2024, with a view to proposing a preliminary green hydrogen certification framework that is backed by our country's standards, aligned with global practices, and tailored to Hong Kong's actual circumstances.” Wong stressed there are many areas for cross-boundary collaboration to accelerate hydrogen development in Hong Kong, including data sharing and simplifying customs clearance arrangements for vehicles carrying the fuel from the mainland to Hong Kong. She said the Environment and Ecology Bureau and the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department plan to sign a memorandum with their Guangdong counterparts to establish a collaborative framework on hydrogen development. Wong also pointed out that during the symposium, the SAR and the Republic of Korea governments have signed agreements on exchanging expertise on hydrogen policies, safety standards, and certification and on sharing technologies. Edited by Tony Sabine