Five more trial projects on hydrogen fuel technology given agreement-in-principle by Inter-departmental Working Group on Using Hydrogen as Fuel (with photo)
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A spokesman for the Environment and Ecology Bureau (EEB) said that the Inter-departmental Working Group on Using Hydrogen as Fuel (Working Group) led by the EEB has given agreement-in-principle to five more applications of trial projects on hydrogen fuel technology at its meeting today (March 22).
The relevant projects involve:
- an application submitted by Epro Advance Technology Limited, which involves the use of silicon to produce hydrogen for power generation set to provide electricity for a public housing construction site in Tung Chung;
- an application submitted by Waihong Environmental Services Limited to try out two hydrogen fuel cell (HFC) refuse collection vehicles;
- an application submitted by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) to try out three HFC street washing vehicles on hire for street washing;
- an application jointly submitted by China State Construction Engineering (Hong Kong) Limited and Hong Kong Nation-Synergy International Hydrogen Power Technology Co. Limited, which involves provision of electricity with hydrogen power generation equipment for the operation of electric machinery at a construction site in Sheung Shui; and
- an application submitted by Veolia Hong Kong Holding Limited, which involves production of hydrogen by using landfill gas and installation of related hydrogen refuelling facilities at the South East New Territories Landfill Extension.
The spokesman for the EEB stated, “The Working Group has been following up the aforementioned five trial project applications, and promptly initiated the examination process upon receipt of detailed information of the trial projects. Following the applicants’ enhancement on the designs and technical details to ensure that the trial projects can be carried out smoothly and safely, the Working Group has given agreement-in-principle to the five applications at its meeting today.”
To date, the Working Group has examined and given agreement-in-principle in stages to a total of 14 valid applications of hydrogen energy trial projects (see attachment). Citybus Limited (Citybus)’s HFC double-deck bus commenced daily passenger service in end February this year. Sinopec (Hong Kong) Limited’s target is to put its hydrogen refuelling station into operation within this year. The FEHD can use the hydrogen refuelling station to replenish hydrogen fuel, hence it plans to launch the trial of its three HFC street washing vehicles in tandem with the operation of the station. The MTR Corporation Limited also plans to conduct the trial of a hydrogen fuelled light rail vehicle as a non-revenue train within this year.
The Working Group has been making reference to the result of consultancy studies to formulate interim standards for use by relevant trial projects, which include the safety guidelines for hydrogen fuel system on vehicles and hydrogen filling stations developed with reference to the Mainland and overseas regulations and standards, as well as the technical guidance note on quantitative risk assessment of hydrogen filling stations. The Working Group will continue to make reference to the operational data and experience collected from the trials. In addition, the relevant consultancy study on business environment impact assessment is also underway. All these help establish the relevant guidelines and legislative framework for the application of hydrogen in Hong Kong in the long term.
The spokesman said, “The Working Group has listened to the results of the consultancy study on the use of tunnels by HFC vehicles, including reference to relevant regulations in the Mainland and overseas countries, and has reviewed the design storage capacity, operating pressure and various safety devices of HFC vehicles. The Working Group shares the view that the risk of HFC vehicles using tunnels is comparable to that of liquefied petroleum gas vehicles and other fossil fuel vehicles. They can travel in tunnels if they comply with the relevant guidelines. However, vehicles conveying hydrogen (such as tube trailers), similar to other vehicles carrying dangerous goods, are not allowed to use tunnels. They can only use the sea route.”
The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) conducted a trade consultation exercise from February 20 to March 19, 2024 to explain the study results to the relevant trades (including public transport operators and tunnel operators, etc.) and listen to their opinions.
The spokesman continued, “The EMSD reported the results of the trade consultation to the Working Group at the meeting. Stakeholders strongly conveyed positive feedback and supported the Government’s proposal. The Working Group has also accepted the Code of Practice for Hydrogen Fuelled Vehicles and Maintenance Workshops, the Code of Practice for Hydrogen Filling Stations and the Guidance Note for Quantitative Risk Assessment Study for Hydrogen Installations, which were formulated by the EMSD after consultation with the trades.”
As noted by the Working Group, the EMSD and the Transport Department (TD) will meet with Citybus and tunnel operators on March 25 this year to discuss practical matters pertinent to hydrogen buses passing through tunnels, such as operational procedures, mode of operation, supporting measures, as well as how to let staff and contractors master and get conversant with the daily operations and contingency measures, etc., with a view to ensuring that appropriate arrangements are put in place to cater for HFC vehicles passing through tunnels in the future.
The spokesman supplemented, “as announced in the Chief Executive’s 2023 Policy Address, we will formulate the Strategy of Hydrogen Development in Hong Kong (the Strategy) in the first half of 2024, and commence the preparatory work for legislative amendments pertinent to the production, storage, transportation and application of hydrogen energy, with a view to introducing an amendment bill into the Legislative Council in 2025. The Working Group has also discussed the preparation work and action timeline for the core strategies and actions pursuant to the announcement of the Strategy.”
The EEB has set up a thematic webpage (cnsd.gov.hk/en/inter-departmental-working-group-on-using-hydrogen-as-fuel/) under the Carbon Neutrality and Sustainable Development website, in order to facilitate the public to acquire a better understanding of the work of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government in promoting local hydrogen development. The aforementioned codes of practices and guidance note established by the EMSD are also available on the thematic webpage.
The Working Group is formed by the EEB, the Transport and Logistics Bureau, the Development Bureau, the Security Bureau, the Environmental Protection Department, the EMSD, the Fire Services Department, the TD, the Marine Department, the Planning Department, the Lands Department, the Buildings Department and the Architectural Services Department.
Dec 28, 2023 | International
Successful trial run of Guangdong-Hong Kong “Single Submission for Dual Declaration” Scheme on cargo
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In proactively implementing the Central Government’s support for the integration of Hong Kong into the overall development of the country and promoting the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China (GACC) and Hong Kong Customs are fully boosting the interconnectivity between the two places and extending their areas of co-operation. In November, the two places signed the Co-operative Arrangement on Smart Customs Development between the GACC and Hong Kong Customs, in which the Guangdong-Hong Kong “Single Submission for Dual Declaration” Scheme on cargo was one of the key co-operation projects.
To put in place the Scheme, the two Customs administrations yesterday (December 27) successfully launched a trial run, in which a Guangdong and Hong Kong enterprise successfully submitted road cargo information to the two Customs administrations through the Scheme and seamlessly exported cargo from Guangdong to Hong Kong via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge. The Scheme facilitates completing Customs declarations for both the Mainland and Hong Kong sides by making a single submission of cargo information.
The Scheme is a trade facilitation measure built on the China (Guangdong) International Trade Single Window Cargo Declaration System (Guangdong Platform) and the Hong Kong Road Cargo System (Hong Kong Platform). Currently, the Scheme applies to cargo exported from the Mainland to Hong Kong passing through the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Port. Under the Scheme, export cargo information declared by Mainland enterprises through the Guangdong Platform will be encrypted and sent to the Hong Kong Platform, where Hong Kong importers can retrieve the relevant cargo information for submission to the Hong Kong Platform for completion of a local Customs declaration.
The Scheme allows enterprises to submit cargo information direct in one go through its automatic cargo information sharing function. It not only helps enterprises save time and cost from repeated data inputting, but also offers an electronic means for enterprises of both places to achieve efficient Customs declarations. Moreover, the Scheme enhances the accuracy of declarations on cargo information and speeds up the receipt of data for the Customs administrations of both sides, thereby improving Customs clearance efficiency and maximising the cargo processing capacity of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Port.
Under the precondition of Smart Customs Development, Hong Kong Customs will continue to extend the coverage of the Scheme to other control points, actively push forward interconnectivity and expand the areas of co-operation between Customs administrations of the two places, so as to enhance the international competitiveness of the Greater Bay Area.
Aug 23, 2023 | International
One more trial project on hydrogen fuel cell bus given agreement-in-principle by Inter-departmental Working Group
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A spokesman for the Environment and Ecology Bureau (EEB) today (August 23) said that the Inter-departmental Working Group on Using Hydrogen as Fuel (Working Group) led by the EEB has given agreement-in-principle to another application of a trial project on hydrogen fuel cell (HFC) double-deck buses on August 20. To date, the Working Group has examined in stages a total of seven applications that have been determined to be valid, and has given agreement-in-principle to all of them.
The said project concerns an application submitted by Citybus Limited (Citybus). The trial project includes the setting up of a hydrogen refuelling facility at its bus depot in Chai Wan and the operation of five HFC double-decker buses. Citybus plans to arrange the operation of battery electric and conventional double-deck buses on the same route as the HFC double-deck buses, with a view to comparing their operational performances.
The spokesperson of the EEB stated, “Upon receipt of the application for the trial project in January 2023, the Working Group promptly initiated the examination process. Following the applicant’s enhancement of the designs and technical details of its proposal to ensure that the trial project can be carried out smoothly and safely, the Working Group gave agreement-in-principle to the application on August 20. According to the plan of the applicant, the trial project is expected to commence in the second half of 2024.”
Since March 24 this year, the Working Group has given agreement-in-principle to a total of seven valid applications of hydrogen energy trial projects. Thus far, all applications that have provided sufficient information to make such applications valid have been examined and processed by the Working Group. The Working Group will closely monitor the progress of the projects and maintain communication with the applicants so that they could optimise the trial projects based on the Working Group’s comments. The Working Group will also examine any new applications received in future, with a view to collecting more data and local operational experience from the hydrogen fuel trial projects as soon as possible, for the purpose of facilitating the formulation of relevant regulations, codes, standards, and technical guidelines for the local application of hydrogen fuel, as well as the planning for the necessary supporting facilities.
The Working Group is formed by the EEB, the Transport and Logistics Bureau, the Development Bureau, the Security Bureau, the Environmental Protection Department, the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department, the Fire Services Department, the Transport Department, the Marine Department, the Planning Department, the Lands Department, the Buildings Department and the Architectural Services Department.
Jun 21, 2023 | International
LCQ19: Cash Allowance Trial Scheme
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Following is a question by the Hon Luk Chung-hung and a written reply by the Acting Secretary for Housing, Mr Victor Tai, in the Legislative Council today (June 21):
Question:
The Government launched a three-year Cash Allowance Trial Scheme (CATS) in late June 2021 to provide cash allowance (allowance) to eligible persons, so as to alleviate the difficulties in livelihood faced by grass-roots families who have been waiting for public rental housing (PRH) for a long period of time. On the other hand, a survey has found that it is estimated that nearly 75 percent of CATS applicants may still not be able to move into PRH after two years, and that about 100 000 non-elderly single persons who have waited for PRH for less than three years currently cannot benefit from CATS. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) of the number of beneficiaries in each year since the launch of CATS, and the PRH waiting time of CATS applicants; among the beneficiaries, the number of those whose allowance has been terminated but still have not yet been allocated PRH flats;
(2) whether it will consider increasing the amount of allowance in line with inflation, and extending the period of time for which the allowance is provided under CATS (e.g. granting the allowance to the applicants until they move into PRH); if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
(3) whether it will consider expanding the target beneficiaries of CATS to cover non-elderly single persons who are currently waiting for PRH; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
(4) as there are views pointing out that CATS is the only financial assistance measure aimed at relieving the housing pressure of tenants of subdivided units, but some tenants are excluded from the scheme due to their not meeting the eligibility criteria and thus become low-income households not living in public housing and not receiving Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (commonly known as “N have-nots households”), whether the Government will, without affecting the implementation of CATS, reintroduce the one-off living subsidy provided to N have-nots households; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
President,
The Government launched the three-year Cash Allowance Trial Scheme (the Scheme) in late June 2021 to provide cash allowance to eligible public rental housing (PRH) General Applicant (GA) households (i.e. applicant households with two or more persons, and applicants under the Single Elderly Priority Scheme) who are not living in PRH, not receiving Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA), and have waited for PRH for more than three years but have not been offered the first PRH allocation, with a view to relieving the pressure on livelihood of grassroots families who are waiting for PRH allocation. In consultation with the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau (HYAB) and the Labour and Welfare Bureau (LWB), our consolidated reply to the various parts of the question raised by the Hon Luk Chung-hung is as follows:
(1) As at end April 2023, the Housing Department (HD) had disbursed a total of around $3.04 billion in cash allowance to about 87 700 eligible PRH GA households. The breakdown of the number of beneficiary households by financial year and by PRH waiting time is at Annex. Meanwhile, around 36 100 PRH GA households have ceased to receive cash allowance because they are no longer eligible (e.g. having received the first PRH flat offer, beginning to receive CSSA). Among these households, about 70 percent have been housed in PRH, about 20 percent have had their PRH applications cancelled or are no longer eligible for PRH allocation (e.g. having purchased a subsidised sale flat), and the remaining households are waiting for the second or third PRH flat offer.
(2) and (3) The cash allowance provided under the Scheme is not a “rental subsidy”. However, given rent is a substantial part of the household expenditure of grassroots families, we have drawn reference from the Maximum Rent Allowance (MRA) under CSSA in determining the levels of cash allowance under the Scheme. The Government will also take into account the private housing rent index under the Consumer Price Index (A) when considering the adjustment of MRA. Following the review by the Social Welfare Department, the MRA which took effect from 1 February 2023 was kept at the same level as that in 2021.
Taking into account the Hong Kong Housing Authority’s target to provide the first PRH flat offer to GA households at around three years on average, the Scheme is applicable to eligible PRH GA households who have been waiting for PRH for more than three years. Since non-elderly one-person applicants are subject to the Quota and Points System, the average waiting time target of around three years for the first PRH flat offer is not applicable to them. Hence, non-elderly one person applicants are not eligible for the cash allowance.
The Scheme runs on a trial basis for three years until mid-2024 and the Government will conduct a review at an appropriate time.
(4) According to the HYAB and the LWB, the Community Care Fund (CCF) launched a “One-off Living Subsidy for Low-income Households Not Living in Public Housing and Not Receiving CSSA” (hereunder referred to as “one-off living subsidy”) Programme in 2020 to support low-income households who were not living in public rental housing and receiving CSSA and had not benefitted from the relief measures announced by the Government in August 2019. The then Chief Executive in 2019 Policy Address invited the CCF to disburse an extra round of “one-off living subsidy” so as to allow time for the Government to complete the study on devising a scheme to provide a cash allowance on a regular basis by end-2020. In view that the two rounds of “one-off living subsidy” has achieved the target, i.e., to provide assistance to eligible low income households, the CCF will not launch the relevant programme again.
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