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The Environment Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government welcomes Shenzhen's incentive scheme released today (September 24) which, from October 1 onwards, will provide an incentive to encourage ocean-going vessels (OGVs) to switch to the use of low-sulphur fuel while berthing.
The scheme marks a big step forward for regional collaboration in the use of green port measures to reduce emissions from marine vessels in the Pearl River Delta (PRD).
Hong Kong launched a three-year Port Facilities and Light Dues Incentive Scheme in September 2012 to encourage OGVs to switch to cleaner fuel while berthing in Hong Kong waters. The HKSAR Government is currently drafting a regulation to mandate this green practice within 2015.
The green port measures taken forward by Hong Kong and Shenzhen will contribute to the improvement of regional air quality in the PRD and help achieve the PRD emission reduction targets for 2015 and 2020, which were set by the governments of Hong Kong and Guangdong Province in 2012.
Hong Kong will continue to collaborate with Guangdong and Shenzhen in controlling emissions from the marine sector in the PRD.
Ends/Wednesday, September 24, 2014
Issued at HKT 16:31
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