The Government will take forward plans to improve rail and road networks, roll out smart and green mass transit projects, and promote the use of new energy in sea, land and air transport, Chief Executive John Lee revealed today in his 2023 Policy Address.

Mr Lee highlighted that the Government will publish its Hong Kong Major Transport Infrastructure Development Blueprint, containing plans for the implementation of major transport infrastructure projects designed to improve the city’s rail and road networks, by the end of the year.

The Chief Executive explained that the blueprint will encompass the Government’s enhanced Three Railways & Three Major Roads proposals (which now include the provision of three intermediate stations at Northeast Tsuen Wan, Northeast Kwai Chung and Tsuen King Circuit on the Central Rail Link, as well as transit to the Tsuen Wan Line), in addition to two new rail project and one new major road project. The two rail projects are the Northern Link Eastern Extension and the Northeast New Territories Line, while the new major road project is the Northern Metropolis Highway (New Territories North New Town Section).

Mr Lee also outlined plans to implement smart and green mass transit solutions. These will be at East Kowloon, Kai Tak and Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen. He said the Government will commence preparatory work, including planning, investigation and design work, for these projects, and invite suppliers and operators to submit expressions of interest for the projects in East Kowloon and Kai Tak, next year.

The Government will also promote the use and supply of new energy in all transportation sectors to spearhead green transformation and the development of new energy industrial chains, Mr Lee said.

In the maritime sector, he said the Government will study the feasibility of providing green methanol bunkering for both local and ocean‑going vessels, and that it will promulgate an action plan next year for the construction of bunkering facilities and the development of supply chains. He added that preparatory work will be taken forward to provide liquefied natural gas bunkering for ocean‑going vessels.

In addition, Mr Lee said the Airport Authority will formulate an action plan to drive the use and supply of sustainable aviation fuel in Hong Kong.

In terms of public land transport, meanwhile, the Government will continue to test out new energy vehicles, including electric public light buses, electric heavy goods vehicles, electric coaches, hydrogen double‑decker buses and hydrogen street-washing vehicles. 

The Chief Executive added that $50 million will be earmarked to subsidise the purchase of wheelchair-accessible electric taxis. Moreover, in the first half of 2024 the Government will formulate a citywide green transformation roadmap and timetable for public buses and taxis, with a view to achieving zero vehicular emissions by 2050. It will also provide support to realise the goal of introducing about 700 electric buses and about 3,000 electric taxis by the end of 2027.

With regard to electric private cars, Mr Lee said the Government will strive to expand the network of charging facilities and increase the number of public and private parking spaces with charging infrastructure to about 200,000 by mid‑2027. From the end of this year, it will marketise the free charging services currently provided in government car parks.

Furthermore, the Government will refine the land lease conditions for petrol‑filling stations with a view to incentivising stations to retrofit charging facilities. Tenders will be invited in the first quarter of next year for the conversion to charging stations of two vacant filling station sites.

Mr Lee added that a “Strategy of Hydrogen Development in Hong Kong” will be formulated in the first half of next year. He said preparatory work will be undertaken for the necessary legislative amendments pertaining to the production, storage, transportation and application of hydrogen fuel, with a view to presenting a bill to the Legislative Council in 2025.