Following is a question by Dr the Hon Hoey Simon Lee and a reply by the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, in the Legislative Council today (June 24):
 
Question:
 
     There are views pointing out that the transformation of the energy structure is the foundation for Hong Kong's economic transformation and industrial upgrading, helps nurture new economic growth points, and that enhancing regional co-operation is an integral part of this process. Moreover, Hong Kong's Climate Action Plan 2050 proposes increasing the share of zero-carbon energy in the fuel mix for electricity generation to around 60 per cent to 70 per cent before 2035, and the Government has indicated that it will try out the use of new energy and enhance co-operation with neighbouring regions. Regarding the enhancement of regional co-operation to promote the transformation of the energy structure, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) as it is learnt that, to meet Hong Kong's future demand for zero-carbon energy, the Government keeps planning ahead for the construction of electricity facilities to receive and process increased electricity transmitted to Hong Kong from other regions, whether the Government has engaged in regional co-operation with relevant energy departments in the Mainland and with other cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area on matters such as zero-carbon energy, cross-boundary power exchange, and the use of the country's Green Electricity Certificates;
 
(2) whether it has established a collaboration mechanism with neighbouring regions for the authentication of the origin of zero-carbon energy supply, carbon emission audits, infrastructure co-ordination and regulatory standards; if so, of the details and the progress; and
 
(3) whether it has established a mechanism to facilitate Mainland low-carbon energy and hydrogen enterprises to invest in Hong Kong, supply products or participate in local projects, such as by enhancing regulatory information sharing between the Mainland and Hong Kong and, where risks are controllable, streamlining the approval procedures?
 
Reply:

President,
 
     Based on the four energy policy objectives of safety, reliability, affordability and environmental performance, the Government progressively promotes the transition of the energy mix and reduces carbon emissions, so as to achieve the medium- and long-term goals of "net-zero electricity generation" as set out in Hong Kong's Climate Action Plan 2050, i.e. to increase the share of zero-carbon energy to about 60-70 per cent by 2035, and achieve "net-zero electricity generation" and carbon neutrality by 2050.

     Through gradually replacing coal with natural gas as fuel in electricity generation and importing more nuclear energy, carbon emissions in Hong Kong peaked in 2014, and reduced by more than a quarter in 2024 compared to the peak level. Currently, Hong Kong's overall fuel mix of electricity generation comprises less than 20 per cent of coal, about 28 per cent of zero-carbon energy (including nuclear energy and renewable energy), and over 50 per cent of natural gas.

     In response to the question raised by Dr the Hon Hoey Simon Lee, our reply is as follows:
 
(1) and (2) Hong Kong is a mountainous and small city, which limits the development of nuclear, hydro, solar and wind energy. Nevertheless, Hong Kong has brought the share of nuclear energy in the fuel mix to the current level of nearly 30 per cent by importation of energy. Increasing the importation of zero-carbon energy will help stabilise electricity prices, enhance the resilience and stability of the electricity system, and facilitate the sustainable and high-quality development of the industries.
 
     To further increase the share of zero-carbon energy in the fuel mix of electricity generation, the Government will focus on strengthening regional energy co-operation for importing more zero-carbon energy from the Chinese Mainland in an orderly manner.

     Currently, CLP Power Hong Kong Limited imports zero-carbon energy through its Clean Energy Transmission System (CETS) connected to the Daya Bay Nuclear Power Station and the power network of the China Southern Power Grid. With the enhancement of the CETS completed in March 2026, Hong Kong will be able to gradually raise the share of zero-carbon energy in the fuel mix of electricity generation to about 35 per cent.

     Meanwhile, the Government is making forward-looking plans to deepen regional energy co-operation and to actively align with our country's efforts to accelerate the development of a new type of energy system, with a view to achieving the long-term goals of "net-zero electricity generation" and carbon neutrality. The major work includes:
 

1. Aligning with the national policy by importation of diversified zero-carbon energy: The 15th Five-Year Plan clearly states the requirement of accelerating the comprehensive green transition for the economy and the society, and upholding the development of multiple energy sources such as wind, solar, hydro and nuclear energy. The First Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (2026-2030) Public Consultation Document also puts forward the objectives of green and low-carbon transition, as well as ceasing the use of coal for daily electricity generation progressively. The Government will endeavour to implement the abovementioned strategy to import diversified zero-carbon energy from the Chinese Mainland, with a view to enhancing the resilience of local electricity supply while stabilising electricity prices.
2. Continuously planning infrastructure and facilities for transmitting electricity to Hong Kong: To further enhance the capacity for receiving zero-carbon energy, the Government has reserved land in Tseung Kwan O Area 132 for the construction of strategic electricity facilities. Relevant government departments and the two power companies are discussing the plan to implement the relevant project.
3. Establishing collaboration mechanism with relevant Chinese Mainland counterparts: We are liaising closely with the relevant Chinese Mainland counterparts to discuss a collaboration mechanism for promoting regional energy co-operation, and to jointly explore options of transmitting electricity to Hong Kong that best serve its overall interests. Since the electricity transmission proposal is still under discussion, the Government will make an announcement at an appropriate juncture.

     Furthermore, the country has made considerable progress in terms of the source certification of renewable energy supply and carbon emissions accounting. China's Green Electricity Certificates (GECs), issued by the National Energy Administration (NEA), are the valid proof of the renewable energy attributes (such as solar, hydro and wind energy). Each GEC unit corresponds to 1 000 kilowatt hours of electricity generated by renewable energy and is valid for two years. To ensure that GECs would not be double-counted, the NEA updates relevant information in real time and simultaneously with various trading platforms through the National GEC Issuing and Trading System in order to record and store data related to the issuance, trading, and write-off of GECs.

     As for carbon emissions accounting, it is a mechanism for calculating greenhouse gas emissions in a uniform manner. The country’s 15th Five-Year Plan also sets out work such as formulating the rules and standards for carbon footprint accounting of products, and promoting international mutual recognition of the rules and standards on carbon footprint.

     Hong Kong is also actively exploring relevant initiatives to promote the GEC development within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Looking ahead, the Government will examine the ways to support national energy-related enterprises and the GEC market to expand application scenarios in the international market, thereby putting green energy transition into practice on multiple fronts.

(3) The Government set up the Inter-departmental Working Group on Using Hydrogen as Fuel in 2022 to co-ordinate preparation works of bureaux and departments for using hydrogen as fuel locally, with a view to encouraging local application of hydrogen energy. The Working Group reviews applications of trial projects on hydrogen as fuel, advises on aspects such as safety and planning, and facilitates hydrogen energy enterprises to commence their hydrogen energy trials. The Working Group has given an agreement-in-principle to a total of 40 applications of hydrogen energy trial projects, a number of which have adopted the products and technologies from the Chinese Mainland.
 
     Besides, the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department and the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) signed the Cooperation Arrangement on Quality and Safety Management in December 2024 to formally establish a co-operation framework that covers five domains, namely, standard metering and conformity assessment, gas-related special equipment, machinery such as hydrogen-powered pressure vessels, household products, and energy efficiency labelling. There has been substantive progress, including:
 

1. facilitating the application of a number of national standards in Hong Kong, thus laying the foundation for the recognition of Chinese Mainland's technical guidelines on hydrogen energy and related products in Hong Kong;
2. designating hydrogen energy as a pilot area for deepened co-operation, with joint efforts on formulating national and international standards;
3. promoting the application in Hong Kong of safety monitoring platforms for hydrogen energy equipment independently developed in the Chinese Mainland, with a view to enhancing the safety regulatory standards of hydrogen-powered facilities in both Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland; and
4. exploring data sharing and mutual recognition of hydrogen pressure vessel approvals between Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland in order to streamline the cross-boundary approval process, provided that the risks are manageable.

     The SAMR indicated clearly, at the International Hydrogen Development Symposium 2026 held in Hong Kong in May 2026, that further deepening of co-operation between the Chinese Mainland and Hong Kong (i.e. from "joining hands in pilot projects" to "joint system development") would be promoted in the next stage of collaboration.
      
     The Government will continue to deepen co-operation with the Chinese Mainland in the areas of low-carbon energy and hydrogen, and by leveraging the unique advantage of connectivity with the Chinese Mainland and the world, provide relevant enterprises with financing support and services for the alignment with international standards, thus enabling their technology and products to go global.
      
     Thank you, President.

Ends/Wednesday, June 24, 2026
Issued at HKT 12:50

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