Marine Department to launch two new incentive schemes in relation to green maritime fuel-related vessels to promote green transformation of shipping industry
The Marine Department (MD) announced today (June 12) that the Port Dues Incentive Scheme for Green Maritime Fuel-related Vessels and the Green Vessels Registration Incentive Scheme will be launched on June 16 for a period of three years, with a view to encouraging more vessels to bunker green maritime fuels in Hong Kong and accelerating the green transformation of the Hong Kong fleet.
The International Maritime Organization has set a target of achieving net-zero carbon emissions in international shipping by around 2050. To leverage the trend of decarbonisation in the international shipping industry, the Government has committed in the Action Plan on Green Maritime Fuel Bunkering promulgated in November 2024 the provision of various financial incentives to help lower the cost of transitioning to green maritime fuels by the maritime industry and expedite the development of Hong Kong as a green port. In this year's Budget, the Government has allocated approximately $34 million to implement relevant initiatives, including providing port dues concessions for vessels powered by green maritime fuels as well as those carrying green maritime fuels, and offering incentives for green fuel-powered vessels registered in Hong Kong.
The Port Dues Incentive Scheme for Green Maritime Fuel-related Vessels provides concessions for green maritime fuel-related vessels, including ocean-going vessels (OGVs) powered by or bunkering specified green maritime fuels in Hong Kong, and OGVs carrying green maritime fuels for supply in Hong Kong. Specified green maritime fuels covered under the Scheme refer to liquefied natural gas (LNG), methanol, ammonia, hydrogen, and bio-diesel (blended with at least 20 per cent bio-fuel). Eligible OGVs conducting specified operation(s) throughout their stay in Hong Kong may apply for a reimbursement of their port dues (including port facilities and light dues, anchorage dues, buoy dues and fees for port clearance permits) paid in accordance with the Shipping and Port Control Regulations (Cap. 313A). The amount of the incentive is equivalent to 25 per cent or 50 per cent of the port dues paid.
Eligible shipowners or their agents must submit the application form together with the required supporting documents to the MD within three months of their vessels' completion of the above operation(s) in and departure from Hong Kong. The approved incentive amount will generally be disbursed within 30 working days. The amounts of incentives applicable to different types of OGVs are set out in the Annex.
A spokesman for the MD said, "Following the launch of the Green Maritime Fuel Bunkering Incentive Scheme last year, the new initiative further provides incentives to encourage the industry to adopt green maritime fuels, which are often more expensive than traditional fuels, and to build up demand for green maritime fuel bunkering services in Hong Kong early. This will in turn attract other players in the green maritime fuel bunkering supply chain, such as bunker suppliers, bunker operators and traders, to establish and expand their operations in Hong Kong. We expect this scheme to attract more than 1 000 visits to Hong Kong by green maritime fuel-related vessels."
Meanwhile, the Green Vessels Registration Incentive Scheme provides incentives to green fuel-powered vessels currently or newly registered in the Hong Kong Shipping Registry (HKSR), thereby attracting and retaining the registration of green vessels in Hong Kong.
Under the scheme, all Hong Kong-registered ships that use green maritime fuels as their primary propulsion fuel, which include LNG, methanol, ammonia and hydrogen but exclude conventional fuels and biofuels, will be eligible to apply. During the three-year period of the scheme, each eligible vessel will be provided with a subsidy of HK$60,000 once every year, and may enjoy one or at most three years' incentives depending on the timing and duration that the vessel is registered with the HKSR. Each vessel is eligible to receive a maximum subsidy of HK$180,000. Approval and disbursement of the incentives will take approximately three months from the receipt of an application with all required supporting documents. The vessel's Hong Kong registration status must be maintained on the date the incentive is disbursed.
The spokesman said, "This scheme will encourage vessels using green maritime fuels to register in Hong Kong and promote the green transformation of the Hong Kong fleet, which will further enhance the overall competitiveness of the HKSR. We estimate that this scheme will attract approximately 100 vessels powered by green maritime fuels to register with the HKSR. Alongside the vessels powered by green maritime fuels currently registered in Hong Kong, we expect that around 170 such vessels registered in Hong Kong will benefit from the scheme within three years of implementation."
The spokesman added, "'Low-carbon' and 'decarbonisation' will be the inevitable focal points of the shipping industry's future development. At present, Hong Kong leads the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area in bunker volume, ranking second nationally and seventh globally. We are committed to leveraging our existing strengths to fully develop our green maritime fuel bunkering capabilities, with an aim to establish Hong Kong as a premier hub for high-quality green maritime fuel bunkering and trading centre."
For details of the Port Dues Incentive Scheme for Green Maritime Fuel-related Vessels and the Green Vessels Registration Incentive Scheme, please visit the MD's webpages (www.mardep.gov.hk/filemanager/en/share/forms/pdf/md558.pdf;www.mardep.gov.hk/filemanager/en/share/forms/pdf/md743.pdf). The promotional leaflets have also been uploaded onto the MD's website (www.mardep.gov.hk/filemanager/en/share/publications/pdf/materials/tis_green.pdf).
The Marine Department, Photo source: reference image
CHP investigates case of influenza A (H9) infection
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) is today (June 12) investigating a case of human infection with influenza A (H9) in collaboration with relevant departments. The patient is a two-year-old boy. His condition has remained mild and he is currently in stable condition. The CHP will send a letter to all doctors in Hong Kong to update them on the latest developments regarding avian influenza A and to urge them to remain vigilant and report any suspected cases.
Case information
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The boy lives in Sha Tin District. He developed a fever and mild diarrhoea on June 9. On the following day (June 10), he was brought to Prince of Wales Hospital and was admitted for treatment. His clinical specimen tested positive for the influenza A (H9) virus by the Public Health Laboratory Services Branch (PHLSB) of the CHP. The subtyping result is pending. His clinical diagnosis was novel influenza. He is currently in stable condition and has been admitted to an isolation ward at Princess Margaret Hospital for treatment.
The CHP's preliminary investigation revealed that the patient had no travel history during the incubation period. The case has been classified as a locally acquired case. The patient does not attend school or receive daycare services. He is primarily cared for by his family members and spends most of his time at home or nearby. His household does not keep poultry. According to information provided by his family members, he has neither consumed undercooked poultry nor come into contact with any patients. In early June, one of his family members took him to Wo Che Market on two occasions. During these visits, the patient stayed at a fresh provision shop in the market that sells live chickens to watch the poultry and touched the surroundings of the fresh provision shop. The CHP conducted an investigation with the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) and collected environmental samples from the shop concerned. The shop staff remained asymptomatic. The patient has six household contacts and they remain asymptomatic so far. The CHP has provided them with preventive medication and put them under medical surveillance.
The CHP is continuing to investigate the source of infection of the case and is conducting whole genome sequencing of the virus sample. The CHP will also report the case to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Humans are primarily infected with the influenza A virus through direct contact with infected poultry or through indirect contact with environments contaminated by their droppings. The CHP's epidemiological investigation indicated that the patient had visited a location where live poultry was sold. It cannot be ruled out that the patient was infected through indirect contact with a contaminated environment at the wet market. As young children have weaker immune systems and are incapable of maintaining good hand hygiene, the CHP advised parents to avoid taking young children to places where live poultry is sold. Transporting poultry may contaminate the ground and the surrounding environment. As young children are shorter in height and easy to be in contact with the surrounding environment, they are at greater risk of coming into contact with poultry droppings or contaminated areas.
In the past ten years, the WHO has received reports of a total of over 160 cases of human infection with influenza A (H9) worldwide. To date, most case of human infection with influenza A (H9) have presented with only mild clinical illness. According to the WHO's risk assessment, the influenza A (H9) virus has not acquired the ability for sustained human-to-human transmissions.
Government's comprehensive follow-up actions
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Novel influenza A infection, including influenza A (H9), is a notifiable infectious disease in Hong Kong. Compared to other highly pathogenic avian influenza strains such as H5N1 and H7N9, influenza A (H9) is a low-pathogenic avian influenza strain that causes milder illness. Excluding the aforementioned case, 10 cases of influenza A (H9N2) have been reported since 1999, including four locally acquired cases and six imported cases. No deaths have been recorded so far. In response to the latest local case, the CHP will issue a letter to all doctors in Hong Kong, reminding them of the latest situation of influenza A (H9), and urging them to remain vigilant and report any suspected cases.
Sporadic cases of human infection with avian influenza occur from time to time internationally. Although the current risk of an outbreak is low, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has consistently implemented preventive measures, including a disease surveillance system, the implementation of livestock control measures at farms, markets and ports, in order to prevent avian influenza.
The PHLSB of the CHP comprises laboratories with high biosafety standards, capable of conducting, testing for high-risk pathogens, and which also possess sufficient testing and genetic analysis capabilities and facilities. Hong Kong currently has sufficient reserve of antiviral medications.
Preventive measures to be taken by the public
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Humans are primarily infected with the avian influenza A virus through contact with infected birds, poultry or other animals (whether alive or dead), or through surfaces or environments contaminated with saliva, mucous and animal faeces (such as wet markets and live poultry markets). The virus has very low transmissibility among humans. People who have close contact with live poultry are more susceptible to contracting avian influenza. The elderly, children and people with chronic illnesses have a higher risk of developing complications such as bronchitis and pneumonia, if infected. Members of the public should remain vigilant and take the following measures to prevent avian influenza:
Avoid contact with poultry, birds or their droppings. If contact has been made, thoroughly wash hands with soap and water;
Poultry and eggs should be thoroughly cooked before eating;
Perform hand hygiene at all times, especially before touching the mouth, nose or eyes; after contact with animals or their living environments; after touching public installations such as handrails or doorknobs; or when hands are contaminated with respiratory secretions, such as after coughing or sneezing;
Cover the mouth and nose with tissue paper when sneezing or coughing. Dispose of soiled tissues into a lidded rubbish bin, then wash hands thoroughly;
When having respiratory symptoms, wear a surgical mask, do not go to work or school, avoid crowded places and seek medical advice promptly;
Avoid crowded public places or areas with poorly ventilated; high-risk individuals may consider putting on a surgical mask when staying in such places; and
Travellers returning to Hong Kong from areas affected by avian influenza outbreaks should consult doctors promptly if they have flu-like symptoms, and inform the doctor of the recent travel history and wear a surgical mask to help prevent spreading of the disease.
The public may visit the CHP's webpages for more information: Avian Influenza Webpage, Avian Influenza Report, Avian influenza statistics and affected areas around the world, Facebook page and Youtube channel.
CHP investigates case of influenza A (H9) infection Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
