Hong Kong Approves Four New Hydrogen Fuel Trial Projects for Sustainable Energy Development

Four more trial projects on hydrogen fuel technology given agreement-in-principle by Inter-departmental Working Group on Using Hydrogen as Fuel

A spokesman for the Environment and Ecology Bureau (EEB) said that the Inter-departmental Working Group on Using Hydrogen as Fuel led by the EEB has given agreement-in-principle to four more applications of trial projects on hydrogen fuel technology at its meeting today (December 15).

The relevant projects involve:

(a)an application submitted by the Vocational Training Council, which involves establishing hydrogen energy training facilities at the Tsing Yi campus of the Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education;

(b)an application submitted by the Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited, which involves installing a hydrogen extraction facility at its Tai Po plant;

(c)an application jointly submitted by Pacific Gate Development Limited, the Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited, Chi Shing New Energy Technology Co, Limited and China Overseas Building Construction Limited, which involves provision of electricity with hydrogen power generation equipment for a construction site office in Central; and

(d)an application submitted by Sinopec (Hong Kong) Limited, which involves launching a trial operation of two hydrogen fuel cell (HFC) commercial vehicles for the purpose of daily transportation of personnel and equipment.

The spokesperson for the EEB stated, "The Working Group has promptly initiated the examination process upon receipt of detailed information of the trial projects. Following the applicants' enhancement on the designs and technical details according to feedback from government departments to ensure that the trial projects can be carried out smoothly and safely, the Working Group has given agreement-in-principle to the four applications at its meeting today."

To date, the Working Group has given agreement-in-principle in stages to a total of 32 applications of hydrogen energy trial projects. The Working Group will continue to make reference to the operational data and experience collected from all local trials, in order to provide advice for the continuous enhancement of the safety and technical guidelines on the local application of hydrogen energy.

The spokesman said, "The Government has made top-level planning in the Strategy of Hydrogen Development in Hong Kong announced in 2024. The Strategy sets out the four major strategies, namely 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."

The spokesperson added, "The Gas Safety (Amendment) Ordinance 2025 was gazetted on July 25, 2025. The definition of 'gas' includes 'regulated hydrogen' used or intended to be used as fuel to propel vehicles, trains, or machinery, etc, bringing it under the regulatory framework of the Gas Safety Ordinance. This Ordinance establishes a regulatory framework governing the importation, manufacture, storage, transport, supply, and use of hydrogen that is used or intended to be used as fuel.

”The Government also plans to introduce the subsidiary legislation on the regulation of 'regulated hydrogen' into the Legislative Council for negative vetting within 2026. The relevant subsidiary legislation will cover the entire supply chain of 'regulated hydrogen' to provide a clear legal framework and stable regulatory environment for the local hydrogen energy industry, enabling both local and international investors to develop hydrogen-related businesses in Hong Kong with greater confidence."

The spokesperson continued, "With a view to promoting the development of green or low-carbon hydrogen, the EEB and the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) commenced a dedicated study for hydrogen standard certification. At the meeting, the EMSD briefed the Working Group on the latest progress of the relevant certification scheme, with the targeted timing of consulting the trade on the content of the scheme in early 2026 and formulate the approach of hydrogen standard certification by 2027, helping Hong Kong take the lead in future global hydrogen energy market.

"The EMSD will continue to promote hydrogen energy development, and plans to organise the Hydrogen Week in May 2026, which will include the key event, International Hydrogen Development Symposium 2026. Additionally, the Energy Working Group of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) has agreed to hold the 1st APEC Clean and Low-Carbon Hydrogen Annual Convention during the Hydrogen Week, marking APEC's first international conference on hydrogen applications. This will complement the APEC 2026 to be hosted by China."

The Working Group will continue to regularly review the progress of the Strategy and provide recommendations to facilitate the implementation of its various measures. 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 Transport Department, the Marine Department, the Planning Department, the Lands Department, the Buildings Department, the Architectural Services Department and the Labour Department.

Source: AI-found images

Home and Youth Affairs Bureau launches new round of HYAB Thematic Youth Internship Programmes to the Mainland

The Home and Youth Affairs Bureau (HYAB) today (March 3) announced the launch of a new round of the HYAB Thematic Youth Internship Programmes to the Mainland (the Programmes) to provide young people with thematic internship opportunities in cultural, nature conservation and scientific research institutions and a media organisation on the Mainland.

To promote young people's understanding of the country and support their integration into the overall development of the nation, the HYAB collaborates with relevant Mainland institutions to provide diverse, unique and in-depth thematic internship opportunities every year under the HYAB Thematic Youth Internship Programmes to the Mainland. In addition to continuing the six internship programmes of last year, the Chief Executive announced in the 2025 Policy Address that a new media thematic internship programme on the Mainland will be launched as part of the Young Talent Training Programme. A new internship programme under the theme of "media industry" will be introduced to provide post-secondary students studying communication-related disciplines with internship opportunities at a large media organisation on the Mainland under the new round of HYAB Thematic Youth Internship Programmes to the Mainland. Through the internship, students will be able to gain a deep understanding of the media landscape, industry operations and development trends on the Mainland. It aims to cultivate young talent with enhanced understanding of the country's development and a professional media perspective.

A total of seven internship programmes will be rolled out this year, namely:

Hong Kong-Macao Youth Internship Programme atPalace Museum, co-organised with the Palace Museum in Beijing;

Youth Internship Programme at Wolong Region of Giant Panda National Park, co-organised with the Sichuan Provincial Administration of the Giant Panda National Park;

Youth Internship Programme at Chinese Academy of Sciences, co-organised with the Chinese Academy of Sciences;

Youth Internship Programme at Dunhuang, co-organised with the Dunhuang Academy;

Youth Internship Programme at Shandong on Marine Sciences, co-organised with the Laoshan National Laboratory at Qingdao;

Youth Internship Programme at Wuyishan on Biodiversity Conservation, co-organised with the Wuyishan National Park Administration; and

Youth Internship Programme at Hunan onMedia Industry, co-organised withHunan Satellite TV.

The internship programmes will take place from June to August this year, with a duration of three to six weeks and a total of nearly 130 thematic internship positions covering areas such as cultural heritage preservation, scientific research and technology, ecological and environmental conservation, and media. Under the guidance of experts, participants will gain an in-depth understanding of the national cultural, nature conservation and scientific research institutions and a media organisation, and participate in their work. Moreover, the programmes will provide training, field trips and other cultural exchange activities for participants.

Applicants should be aged between 18 and 30, and be (i) a full-time post-secondary student (including sub-degree, undergraduate, or postgraduate) holding a Hong Kong permanent identity card; or (ii) a local full-time post-secondary student (including sub-degree, undergraduate, or postgraduate) holding a Hong Kong identity card.

Details of the new round of the Programmes are available on the website of the Youth Development Commission (www.ydc.gov.hk/en/programmes/ip/ip_youththematic.html).

Source: AI-found images