********************************************************
Following is a question by the Hon Leung Yiu-chung and a written reply by the Secretary for the Environment, Mr Wong Kam-sing, in the Legislative Council today (November 12):
Question:
According to the 2012 Air Pollutant Emission Inventory compiled by the Environmental Protection Department (EPD), navigation is one of the major sources of air pollutants in Hong Kong. Following the commissioning of the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal (the Terminal) in June last year, some environmental groups and members of the public are concerned that the pollutants emitted by cruise vessels at berth will affect air quality and pose health hazards to the public. At four different meetings held by the Panel on Economic Development of this Council last year, various members expressed concern about the need for the Government to promptly install onshore power supply facilities at the Terminal to reduce the air pollution generated by berthing cruise vessels. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) as the EPD indicated last year that it had commissioned the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) to undertake a technical feasibility study on the installation of onshore power supply facilities at the Terminal and the study is expected to be completed by the middle of this year, of the latest progress of the study, and whether the EMSD can publish the study report by the end of this year; if it can, of the follow-up actions the authorities will take; if not, the reasons for that; and
(2) whether it has set a timetable for the installation of onshore power supply facilities at the Terminal; if it has, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
President,
The EPD entrusted the EMSD to engage a consultant to study the technical feasibility of installing onshore power supply (OPS) facilities at Kai Tak Cruise Terminal in November 2013. The consultant submitted the draft report to the EPD in July 2014. The EPD and the relevant departments are examining the findings of the study and considering the relevant factors for installing OPS so as to formulate the work plan. These relevant factors include the technical details and preliminary design of OPS installation, capital and operating costs, implementation programme and timeframe, environmental benefits, the latest worldwide development of OPS including in Asian Pacific region, cruise liners' position on using OPS, and the development of other marine emission control technologies, etc. We expect to report to the relevant panels of the Legislative Council on the findings and recommendations in the first half of 2015.
At present, there is no cruise terminal providing OPS in Asian Pacific region. Only a small number of cruise vessels are equipped with OPS facilities worldwide, which mainly operate in routes in the North America. To reduce air pollution from ocean-going vessels (OGVs), besides studying the feasibility of installing OPS in Kai Tak Cruise Terminal, we are drafting a regulation to require OGVs (including cruise vessels) to switch to low sulphur fuel (with sulphur content not exceeding 0.5 per cent) while at berth in Hong Kong. We expect to table the relevant regulation to the Legislative Council for vetting in 2015.
Ends/Wednesday, November 12, 2014
Issued at HKT 12:18
NNNN
