Acting SEE: Welcoming International Hydrogen Development Symposium 2026 Held in Hong Kong, Fostering Global Collaboration for Clean Energy Transition

Welcoming speech by Acting SEE at International Hydrogen Development Symposium 2026

Following is the welcoming speech by the Acting Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Miss Diane Wong, at the International Hydrogen Development Symposium 2026 today (May 18):

(Chief Engineer of the National Energy Administration, Mr Liu Deshun); (Deputy Director-General of the International Cooperation Department (Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Affairs Office) of the State Administration for Market Regulation, Mr Zhu Zhongliang); (Deputy Director-General of the Department of Educational, Scientific and Technological Affairs of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Mr Ye Shuiqiu); Deputy Minister Mr Jeong Eui-kyung (Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport of the Republic of Korea), honourable speakers, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen:

Good morning. It is my great honour to welcome you all to the International Hydrogen Development Symposium in Hong Kong.

This Symposium is a flagship event of the Hydrogen Week 2026 and gathers over 1 000 guests, experts, and participants locally, from the Chinese Mainland and abroad. Co-organised with the China Hydrogen Alliance, this mega event provides an interactive platform for exchanging knowledge, sharing experience, leveraging innovations, and shaping the future. On behalf of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), I wish to extend my warmest greetings to every participant joining us from near and far.

Tackling climate change is an urgent global priority. A rapid and effective green transition is essential for our future, and hydrogen represents one of the most promising pathways towards a sustainable energy landscape. Around the world, governments and industries are ramping up efforts to advance hydrogen technologies and infrastructure, recognising them as a key enabler of this clean energy transition.

Our country is committed to reaching peak carbon emissions by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2060. To align with our country's "dual carbon" goals, the HKSAR Government has set ambitious targets to reduce carbon emissions by half from the 2005 level before 2035, and to achieve full carbon neutrality before 2050.

In Chapter 2 of our country's 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development, it states that forward-looking plans should be put in place for industries of the future. We need to explore diverse technology roadmaps, typical application scenarios, feasible business models and market regulation rules and work to foster new drivers of economic growth. Hydrogen is mentioned as one of the examples.

The challenges ahead are significant. In preparation for the opportunities presented by hydrogen development, the HKSAR Government set up in mid-2022 the Inter-departmental Working Group on Using Hydrogen as Fuel to remove barriers and facilitate the commencement of local hydrogen applications. By now, 37 hydrogen energy trial projects are under way or under preparation. These projects cover, among other things, hydrogen fuel cell double-decker buses and street washing vehicles, a public hydrogen refilling station in the New Territories, hydrogen fuel cell gensets for use in construction sites and a hydrogen-powered generator used at the 15th National Games. More trial projects are expected to commence progressively, including hydrogen fuel cell coaches and goods vehicles and production of hydrogen through landfill gas. You are cordially invited to visit the booths showcasing these trial projects in our exhibition hall.

Also, through the Green Tech Fund and the New Energy Transport Fund, we are actively promoting and encouraging the trial of innovations in hydrogen-related technologies, products, applications and business models, with a view to achieving breakthroughs in the bottlenecks in the technology and the market, and strengthening the competitiveness of the supply chain of the hydrogen industry as a whole.

"The Strategy of Hydrogen Development in Hong Kong" was released in June 2024. The Strategy sets out four major strategies, namely "Improving legislation", "Establishing standards", "Aligning with the market" and "Advancing with prudence", with a view to creating a local environment conducive to the development of hydrogen energy in a prudent and orderly manner.

The Gas Safety (Amendment) Ordinance 2025 was enacted in July 2025. Hydrogen used as fuel will be brought under the safety regulatory framework of the Gas Safety Ordinance. New subsidiary legislation on the regulation of hydrogen will be introduced into the Legislative Council for negative vetting within 2026, covering the importation, manufacture, storage, transport, supply and use of hydrogen as fuel. Our target is that the Ordinance and the subsidiary legislation will come into effect on the same day.

We are actively advancing green hydrogen standards, including the introduction of a hydrogen standard certification scheme. The HKSAR Government commenced a dedicated study in August 2024, with a view to proposing a preliminary green hydrogen certification framework that is backed by our country's standards, aligned with global practices, and tailored to Hong Kong's actual circumstances. Green hydrogen and low-carbon hydrogen have been included in the Hong Kong Taxonomy for Sustainable Finance Phase 2A published by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority in January 2026. We are also collaborating with relevant stakeholders, such as the Hong Kong Quality Assurance Agency, with the target of establishing the relevant certification system by 2027.

In support of our country's policy directive to build a clean and low-carbon energy system, the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department and the State Administration for Market Regulation signed the Memorandum of Co-operation in December 2024 for establishing a platform to accelerate hydrogen development through (i) collaborative alignment with national and international hydrogen standards; (ii) cross-boundary data sharing and mutual recognition of hydrogen pressure vessel approvals; and (iii) formulation of a green hydrogen certification framework suitable for Hong Kong, the Chinese Mainland and the world, bridging regional and global practices.

The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department has also been working with the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China for (i) establishing the "Green Corridor" for the transport of hydrogen samples from Hong Kong to the Chinese Mainland for hydrogen quality testing and certification; and (ii) simplifying customs clearance arrangements for hydrogen conveyance vehicles to facilitate cross-boundary transportation of hydrogen from the Chinese Mainland to Hong Kong.

To strengthen cross-boundary collaboration, the Environment and Ecology Bureau, the Guangdong Provincial Development and Reform Commission, and the Foshan Municipal Government plan to sign a memorandum to establish a collaborative framework on hydrogen development. Our aim is to capitalise on opportunities and enhance competitive advantages, with a view to promoting green and low-carbon transformation of the energy system. We are also working closely with Guangdong Province on the development of the Greater Bay Area Hydrogen Corridor.

I am happy to note that, later this week, many of you will participate in a technical visit to the Yangtze River Delta Region. This visit will help showcase the cutting-edge technologies emerging on the Chinese Mainland and facilitate deeper o-operation among industry players. These initiatives broaden our engagement with the Chinese Mainland and the world, deeply integrating Hong Kong into the country's overall development.

Today, I am particularly delighted to witness further collaboration between the Republic of Korea and Hong Kong, through the signing of three key Memoranda of Understanding. These include government-level agreements between our Electrical and Mechanical Services Department and both the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the Korea Gas Safety Corporation, alongside a strategic business-to-business Memorandum of Understanding uniting enterprises from Korea and Hong Kong. Together, these agreements relating to hydrogen mark a significant milestone that demonstrates our shared vision and paves the way for tangible, on-the-ground co-operation for accelerating the green transition towards carbon neutrality. Through these partnerships, we will actively exchange expertise on hydrogen policies, safety standards, and green certification. We also look forward to sharing emerging technologies across the entire hydrogen value chain (from production to refuelling infrastructure), while fostering joint ventures, facilitating the launch of demonstration projects, and driving capacity building.

Hong Kong offers an exceptional and rigorous testing ground for advanced hydrogen infrastructure and mobility solutions. We firmly believe that if cutting-edge green technologies can be applied and scaled up successfully in Hong Kong's densely populated environment, it could serve as a positive model and avail choices of highly viable options for reference by modern cities worldwide. By combining Korea's world-class technological capabilities and Hong Kong's strategic urban context, I am confident that we can create a powerful synergy that advances the green transition for both of our economies.

Technology and policy cannot succeed without capital. I am highly encouraged by the participation of guests and experts from the financial sector today. Looking ahead, with our roles as a "super connector" and "super value-adder", Hong Kong will position itself as a demonstration base for hydrogen technologies, facilitating the export of innovations developed on the Chinese Mainland. Crucially, we will leverage our strengths as an international financial centre to provide the green financing and professional services required to scale up these hydrogen initiatives regionally and globally. Governments, innovators, and the financial sector must all work together to make this transition a reality.

Ladies and gentlemen, the development of hydrogen and other new energy in Hong Kong is not only a vital step towards achieving carbon neutrality, but also a treasured opportunity to reshape our energy landscape. Building a truly sustainable future is an ongoing mission - one that requires a continuous injection of talent and fresh perspectives. For this reason, engaging our youth is a core focus of this week's agenda. Through the H2Future for Good and HydroRace Challenges, we are empowering students to interact directly with green technologies, sparking their curiosity and equipping them to be the future drivers of our green transition.

This Symposium is designed for you to share your success stories, discuss the lessons learned, and forge new partnerships and networking. Please make the best use of this gathering to promote collaboration across borders and disciplines. Together, let us inspire one another and push the boundaries of what is possible. Thank you, and I wish you all a highly fruitful Symposium, as well as an enjoyable week in Hong Kong.

Thank you very much.

Miss Diane Wong, Photo source: reference image

DH announces latest situation regarding Legionnaires' disease case

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (May 18) reported the latest number of Legionnaires' disease (LD) cases, and reminded the public of the importance of using and maintaining properly designed man-made water systems, adding that susceptible groups should strictly observe relevant precautions.

From May 10 to 16, the CHP recorded three community-acquired LD cases involving three men with underlying illnesses, aged between 70 and 75. The details are as follows:

a 72-year-old patient living in Southern District;

a 70-year-old patient living in Sai Kung District; and

a 75-year-old patient living in Wong Tai Sin District.

The CHP is conducting epidemiological investigations to identify the potential sources of infection and high-risk exposure. An initial investigation revealed that the three cases are sporadic cases. No epidemiological linkages have been established between these cases and other confirmed cases previously recorded in Hong Kong.

As of May 16, 49 LD cases had been recorded this year. In 2025 and 2024, there were 167 and 135 LD cases respectively.

Men, people aged over 50, smokers, alcoholics and persons with weakened immunity are more susceptible to LD. Some situations may also increase the risk of infection, including poor maintenance of water systems; living in areas with old water systems, cooling towers or fountains; using electric water heaters, whirlpool spas or hot water spring spas; and recent stays in hotels or ships.

Legionellae are found in various environmental settings and grow well in warm water (20 to 45 degrees Celsius). They can be found in aqueous environments such as water tanks, hot and cold water systems, cooling towers, whirlpool spas, water fountains, humidifiers and home respiratory devices that support breathing. People may become infected when they breathe in contaminated droplets (aerosols) and mist generated by artificial water systems, or when handling garden soil, compost and potting mixes.

Immunocompromised persons should:

Use sterile or boiled water for drinking, tooth brushing and mouth rinsing;

Avoid using humidifiers, or other mist- or aerosol-generating devices; and

If using humidifiers, or other mist- or aerosol-generating devices, fill the water tank with only sterile or cooled freshly boiled water, and not water directly from the tap. Also, clean and maintain humidifiers/devices regularly according to manufacturers' instructions. Never leave stagnant water in a humidifier/device. Empty the water tank, wipe all surfaces dry, and change the water daily.

The public should observe the health advice below:

Observe personal hygiene;

Do not smoke and avoid alcohol consumption;

Strainers in water taps and shower heads should be inspected, cleaned, descaled and disinfected regularly or at a frequency recommended by the manufacturer;

If a fresh-water plumbing system is properly maintained, it is not necessary to install domestic water filters. Use of water filters is not encouraged as clogging occurs easily, which can promote growth of micro-organisms. In case water filters are used, the pore size should be 0.2 micrometres (µm) or less and the filter needs to be changed periodically according to the manufacturer's recommendations;

Drain and clean water tanks of buildings at least quarterly;

Drain or purge for at least one minute infrequently used water outlets (e.g. water taps, shower heads and hot water outlets) and stagnant points of the pipework weekly or before use;

Seek and follow doctors' professional advice regarding the use and maintenance of home respiratory devices and use only sterile water (not distilled or tap water) to clean and fill the reservoir. Clean and maintain the device regularly according to the manufacturer's instructions. After cleaning/disinfection, rinse the device with sterile water, cooled freshly boiled water or water filtered with 0.2 µm filters. Never leave stagnant water in the device. Empty the water tank, keep all surfaces dry, and change the water daily; and

When handling garden soil, compost and potting mixes:

Wear gloves and a face mask;

Water gardens and compost gently using low pressure;

Open composted potting mixes slowly and make sure the opening is directed away from the face;

Wet the soil to reduce dust when potting plants; and

Avoid working in poorly ventilated places such as enclosed greenhouses.

The public may visit the CHP'sLD page, theCode of Practice for Prevention of LDand theHousekeeping Guidelines for Cold and Hot Water Systems for Building Managementof the Prevention of LD Committee, and the CHP'srisk-based strategyfor prevention and control of LD.

Additionally, as smokers and alcoholics are more susceptible to LD, the Government urgesmembers of the public to quit smoking and avoid drinking. Members of the public may call the DH Integrated Smoking Cessation Hotline at 1833 183, which is answered by registered nurses who provide professional counselling and referral to a wide range of free smoking cessation services. The public may also visit the smoking cessation thematic website (www.livetobaccofree.hk) for more information on smoking cessation. The DH has also developed and promulgated the Alcohol Screening and Brief Intervention tool to primary healthcare service providers to facilitate the early identification and management of at-risk drinkers. For information on alcohol-related harm, please visit the DH'sChange for Health website.

Source: AI-found images