The Hong Kong government has introduced several measures to promote the development of electric vehicles in its latest Budget, aiming to facilitate the transition to green transportation. These measures include allocating HKD 300 million for the installation of 3,000 high-speed charging stations and investing HKD 605 million to assist buses and taxis in upgrading to electric vehicles.
According to Financial Secretary Paul Chan, Hong Kong currently has around 100,000 electric vehicles, an increase of eight times compared to five years ago. To address the growing demand for electric vehicles, the government will launch a funding scheme of HKD 300 million this year, aiming to add 3,000 fast charging stations across the city by 2030 to cater to an additional 160,000 electric vehicles. This initiative is designed to enhance the convenience of charging facilities and encourage more car owners to transition to the electric vehicle market.
In addition to expanding charging facilities, the government is actively promoting the greening of public transport. According to the recently announced “Green Transformation Roadmap for Public Buses and Taxis,” the New Energy Transport Fund will allocate HKD 470 million to fund franchise bus companies for the purchase of 600 electric buses, as well as an additional HKD 135 million to assist the taxi industry in acquiring 3,000 electric taxis. Furthermore, the government has also launched the “Hydrogen Fuel Cell Heavy Vehicle Funding Trial Scheme” to promote more eco-friendly transportation options.
Smart green transportation has become a key focus area for the government. Chan Mo-po mentioned that last year, the government issued invitations for expressions of interest regarding intelligent green public transport systems in Kai Tak, East Kowloon, and the Hong Shui Qiao / Xia Cun and Yuen Long South development areas. The goal is to complete the bidding for the Kai Tak project this year, while next year, the focus will shift to projects in East Kowloon and Hong Shui Qiao / Xia Cun and Yuen Long South.
