Following is a question by the Dr Hon Hoey Simon Lee and a written reply by the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, in the Legislative Council today (June 10):
 
Question:

     Since 2022, the SAR Government has set up the Inter-departmental Working Group on Using Hydrogen as Fuel (the Working Group) to co-ordinate preparation works of bureaux/departments for using hydrogen as fuel locally. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) as the Government previously stated that as at April 27, 2026, the Working Group had reviewed and given agreement-in-principle to 37 applications for hydrogen energy trial projects, of the respective details, trial progress, and time taken for vetting and approval of such projects;

(2) as the Government indicated in February this year that the Working Group had discussed enhancement measures to cut red tape and ease restrictions, with a view to streamlining the procedures for vetting and approving the aforesaid trial project applications, so as to enable more trial projects to be taken forward smoothly and in a timely manner, of the details of such enhancement measures;

(3) given the Working Group's accumulation of industry feedback and experience in vetting and approving trial projects, whether the Government will consider developing a risk-based approval mechanism to streamline the vetting and approval procedures for low-risk hydrogen energy trial projects, provided that risks are controllable; and

(4) given that the Government plans to regulate the safe use of hydrogen through the Gas Safety Ordinance (Cap. 51), which was amended last year, and the relevant subsidiary legislation to be introduced this year, thereby creating an environment conducive to the long-term development of hydrogen energy in Hong Kong, of the measures the Government will take to attract enterprises to promote the development of hydrogen energy from the trial stage to commercialisation?

Reply:

President,

     Our country promulgated in March 2022 the Medium and Long Term Plan for the Development of Hydrogen Energy Industry (2021-2035) which states that hydrogen would be an important component of the national energy system in the future. Hydrogen energy is also one of the future industries set out in the National 15th Five-Year Plan.

     The Environment and Ecology Bureau established the Inter-departmental Working Group on Using Hydrogen as Fuel (the Working Group) in mid-2022, and published the Strategy of Hydrogen Development in Hong Kong in 2024, making top-level planning and setting out the four major strategies of improving legislations; establishing standards; aligning with the market; and advancing with prudence to create an environment conducive to the development of hydrogen energy in Hong Kong in a prudent and orderly manner. We expect Hong Kong to capitalise on the environmental and economic opportunities brought about by hydrogen development, broaden Hong Kong's co-operation with the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) and the world, integrate into and serve the country's overall development, and develop new quality productive forces.

     In response to Dr Hon Hoey Simon Lee's question on promoting the development of hydrogen energy, our consolidated reply is as follows:

(1) Since its establishment, the Working Group has been actively co-ordinating and examining applications of local hydrogen trial projects, and promoting the implementation of innovative applications on the premise of ensuring safety. As at the end of May 2026, the Working Group has given agreement-in-principle to 38 hydrogen energy trial projects, covering applications in the areas of transport, infrastructure, and hydrogen gensets at construction sites, etc. Details and latest progress of each project are set out in the Annex.

(2) and (3) At its meeting in February, the Working Group discussed and endorsed facilitative measures to remove barriers and ease restrictions to streamline approval procedures in the light of industry feedback and experiences in processing trial projects.

     The measures include exempting applicants of projects involving maturing technologies with lower risks (such as construction site hydrogen gensets that meet specific safety requirements) from the requirement to conduct quantitative risk assessments (QRA) for projects meeting specified requirements and conditions. Applicants are also exempted from the requirement to submit designated technical information for projects involving hydrogen genset models that have received approval before.

     As for hydrogen fuel cell vehicle projects, the Working Group has revised the relevant application form and streamlined the procedures to allow applicants of trial projects to submit supporting documents in stages in order to shorten the time required to obtain agreement-in-principle.

     The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) has formulated the "Guidance Note on Quantitative Risk Assessment Study for Hydrogen Installations in Hong Kong" to assess the safety risks of hydrogen fuel applications in different scenarios. The guidance note provides a technical basis for establishing a risk-graded approval mechanism in the future. With the commencement of more trial projects and the accumulation of more data, the Working Group will continue to explore options for further streamlining the approval procedures.

(4) Measures to further promote the development of hydrogen energy include:

Improving legislations

     The Gas Safety (Amendment) Ordinance 2025, passed by the Legislative Council, was gazetted on July 25, 2025. The Government is currently drafting the relevant subsidiary legislation, with the target of submitting it to the Legislative Council for negative vetting within this year. The aim is to provide a clear legal framework and a stable regulatory environment for the hydrogen energy industry, so that local and international investors can develop hydrogen-related businesses in Hong Kong with greater confidence. Upon the commencement of the relevant legislation, the EMSD will, with reference to the existing regulatory mechanism for Registered Gas Supply Companies, publish a list of approved "Registered Hydrogen Supply Companies" on its website to facilitate the industry in identifying qualified professional services.

Establishing standards

     The EMSD has completed the codes of practice for hydrogen vehicles (including hydrogen vehicles travelling through tunnels), maintenance workshops, hydrogen filling stations, and stationary hydrogen fuel cell power generation systems, as well as the guidance note for QRA study of hydrogen installations, thereby progressively establishing a comprehensive safety standards system. This will safeguard public safety while providing the trade with clear safety guidance for the trial and development of hydrogen energy technologies.

     The EMSD is formulating a green and low-carbon hydrogen certification framework and had completed trade consultation in April this year. The Government's target is to establish certification system that connects with the Chinese Mainland and the world by 2027 or earlier, thereby helping Hong Kong develop into a demonstration base for green and low-carbon hydrogen technologies, and leverage Hong Kong's status as an international financial centre to provide financing services for green hydrogen technologies and products from around the world.

Aligning with the market

     Notwithstanding Hong Kong's limited potential for renewable energy development, the Government has been actively exploring the feasibility of producing green hydrogen locally through innovative technologies so as to participate in the green hydrogen market through scientific research and innovation in a forward-looking manner. The construction of Hong Kong's first landfill gas-to-hydrogen production facility (located at the South East New Territories Landfill Extension) has been completed. Testing is expected to commence in June this year, with a view to commencing production and supply of green hydrogen to Hong Kong in the second half of the year.

     The Government launched a subsidy scheme under the New Energy Transport Fund, with $100 million earmarked in the first phase to subsidise local companies to try out and procure hydrogen fuel cell heavy vehicles, establish hydrogen filling facilities, and subsidise hydrogen fuel expenses during the trial period. Funding ceiling for each project is $10 million. The Green Tech Fund has also approved 13 R&D (research and development) projects involving hydrogen production, storage, and fuel cell development.

     In respect of capacity building, the Government is actively promoting the training of professionals in hydrogen energy technology. The Vocational Training Council launched the "Certificate in Safety Awareness for Hydrogen Fuel Application" course in July 2025 and is currently preparing to launch the "Certificate for Hydrogen Vehicle Mechanics" course.

Advancing with prudence

     Hydrogen energy is a new technology. As a major powerhouse in hydrogen production, our country is at the global forefront of hydrogen energy development and technical standard-setting. To develop hydrogen energy in Hong Kong in a safe and orderly manner, we must align with the country's technical standards. Hence, we maintain close communication with the Chinese Mainland, including establishing a platform with the State Administration for Market Regulation to accelerate hydrogen energy development. Together, we are deepening the cross-boundary application of special hydrogen equipment (including liquid hydrogen equipment, tube trailers, and construction site hydrogen gensets), leveraging the country's strong technological and safety standard advantages to advance the development of hydrogen application in Hong Kong.

     Hong Kong will continue to leverage its distinctive advantages of enjoying strong support of the motherland and being closely connected to the world, serving as a vital bridge between the Chinese Mainland and the international community. The EMSD hosted a diverse array of international hydrogen exchange platforms, including the "Hydrogen Week" and the "International Hydrogen Development Symposium 2026" in May 2026. During the symposium, the EMSD signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport of the Republic of Korea and the Korea Gas Safety Corporation respectively, to promote the development of the hydrogen energy ecosystem in both places and strengthen technical co-operation in the field of gas safety. We have also facilitated the signing of MoUs among 10 enterprises from the Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong, and the Republic of Korea to co-operate on the development of hydrogen energy businesses in Hong Kong. The forum also featured dedicated sessions to promote Hong Kong's green finance services, building a smooth financing channel between green capital and the hydrogen energy industry, thereby fulfilling our roles as a "super connector" and a "super value-adder" to unlock opportunities for business collaboration both locally and overseas.

Ends/Wednesday, June 10, 2026
Issued at HKT 14:50

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