LCQ3: Electric vehicle charging facilities in car parks under Hong Kong Housing Authority
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Question:
Some members of the public have relayed that some car parks in properties under the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA), including those at public housing estates and subsidised sale housing, are not yet installed with charging facilities and smart payment systems. They are therefore unable to meet the needs arising from the popularisation of electric vehicles (EVs). In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) of the total number of car parks in properties under the HAs where EV charging facilities have currently been installed; the number of charging facilities (including (i) standard chargers, (ii) medium chargers, (iii) fast chargers and (iv) 13A sockets for EV charging) installed in those car parks, set out in Table 1 by name of housing estate;
Table 1
| Name of housing estate | (i) | (ii) | (iii) | (iv) |
(2) whether EV charging facilities at car parks in properties under the HA are currently installed with smart payment systems (such as real-time payment via mobile applications, Octopus cards or other electronic payment methods); if so, of the number of car parks where such systems have been installed and the installation rate; if not, the reasons for that;
(3) over the past five years, the (i) average daily total electricity consumption and (ii) average daily number of vehicle visits to the EV charging facilities at car parks in properties under the HA, and (iii) average daily charging duration per vehicle using the facilities (set out in Table 2);
Table 2
| Year | (i) | (ii) | (iii) |
| 2022 | |||
| ...... | |||
| 2026 |
(4) among the car parks in properties currently under the HA, whether there are any car parks where basic infrastructural facilities (such as space earmarked for a separate electricity meter or basic wiring) have been installed, but where charging facilities for electric vehicles have not yet been formally installed or commissioned; if so, (i) the housing estates or courts to which these car parks belong, (ii) the number of parking spaces involved, and (iii) the specific reasons why EV charging facilities have not been installed or commissioned (set out in Table 3); and
Table 3
| (i) | (ii) | (iii) |
(5) whether the HA has considered calculating charges for EV charging facilities in car parks of its properties on the basis of electricity consumption (rather than usage time); if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
President,
In support of the Government's policy to promote the wider use of electric vehicles (EVs), since 2013, the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) has been providing EV charging facilities in newly built carparks for public housing developments in accordance with the Hong Kong Planning Standards and Guidelines. Currently, the HA has equipped parking spaces for all private cars (PC), motorcycles and light goods vehicles with EV charging infrastructure in newly built carparks for public housing developments, and has installed medium chargers subject to site conditions. Moreover, in order to cater for the need for EV fast charging services, the HA also provides fast chargers at hourly PC parking spaces in newly built carparks which comprise 100 or more parking spaces. The HA will closely monitor the utilisation of EV chargers. In the coming three years, the HA plans to provide over 3 500 EV chargers in newly built carparks for public housing developments.
Our reply to the question raised by the Hon Dennis Leung is as follows:
(1) and (4) To complement the Government's effort in enhancing the charging networks for EVs, the HA has been proactively expanding the provision of charging facilities in its carparks. As at June 2026, the HA has provided EV chargers for about 6 000 PC parking spaces in its over 170 carparks (accounting for about 80 per cent of the HA's carparks). The EV chargers comprise about 1 680 standard chargers (i.e. 13A sockets), about 4 310 medium chargers and 13 fast chargers. If we take into account the parking spaces with charging infrastructure, over 30 per centof the PC parking spaces in the HA's existing carparks have been equipped with charging facilities or relevant infrastructure (e.g. with final circuit cables laid). Given that the scale, the site conditions and the number of parking spaces in these over 170 carparks vary, we will make flexible arrangements according to actual needs.
In fact, the HA has been keeping a close eye on the utilisation of EV chargers. Taking into account the latest relevant policy and technology developments, the HA has, on a pilot basis, invited tenders for the provision of EV charging services in its existing carparks (the Pilot Scheme) in June this year. Under the Pilot Scheme, private operators will provide and operate the charging facilities, with a view to leveraging market forces to meet the needs of EV users in a more flexible and effective manner and further enhancing the service quality and coverage. It is planned that contracts will be awarded within this year under the Pilot Scheme, covering more than 500 parking spaces. The HA will make reference to the implementation of the Pilot Scheme with a view to extensively rolling out tender exercises for EV charging services for other HA's carparks in 2027.
(2) The HA has installed self-service payment terminals which accept Octopus payments in 14 newly built carparks providing hourly parking spaces. The HA will continue to install self-service payment terminals in carparks providing hourly parking spaces for new public housing developments. These terminals will be placed near the hourly parking spaces to bring convenience to users and enhance users' experience. Following the commencement of the Pilot Scheme, the HA will progressively invite tenders for EV charging services for its carparks, and ensure that electronic payment systems will be made available by the operators under the Pilot Scheme.
(3) and (5) To complement the Government's initiative to marketise EV charging services, starting from April 1, 2024, the HA has taken forward fee-paying EV charging services at hourly parking spaces in its carparks. The HA has made reference to the prevailing market rates, including the fees charged by other public carparks and comparable private carparks, to determine the fees which are subject to annual reviews. Currently, EV charging fees at the HA's hourly parking spaces are charged according to the charging duration. The rated output power for medium chargers at hourly parking spaces is seven kilowatts (kW), i.e. the maximum electricity consumption for an hour is seven units of electricity. As the current fee amounts to $10 per 30 minutes, the fee for each unit of electricity is about $2.99, which falls within the range of prevailing market rates. As for monthly parking spaces installed with EV chargers, at present, they are generally let on a reserved basis. Users are required to apply to the electric power companies for electricity separately and pay the relevant electricity bills to the electric power companies directly. The HA does not keep statistics on the average daily charging duration per vehicle over the past five years, nor other relevant data that needs to be collected on a daily basis.
As for carparks under the Pilot Scheme, private operators will adopt smart payment systems that charge users based on the amount of electricity consumed. Users shall pay the electricity bills directly to the operators. The EV charging fee will be determined by the operators with reference to prevailing market rates and is subject to prior approval from the HA. The HA shall continue to closely monitor the utilisation of EV chargers in its carparks.
Ends/Wednesday, October 7, 2026
Issued at HKT 14:15
Issued at HKT 14:15
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