Government Proposes Legislative Tender

The Government published in the Gazette today October 2 six pieces of subsidiary legislation to amend Schedule 3 to the Pilotage Ordinance Cap 84 and five pieces of subsidiary legislation under the Immigration Ordinance Cap 115 the Dangerous Goods Ordinance Cap 295 the Shipping and Port Control Ordinance Cap 313 and the Merchant Shipping Local Vessels Ordinance Cap 548 to ensure that port facilities including anchorages and related arrangements can meet the growing demand for green maritime fuel bunkering services amid the global trend towards maritime decarbonisation

The five pieces of subsidiary legislation to be amended are

a Immigration Anchorages and Landing Places Amendment Order Cap 115C
b Dangerous Goods Shipping Amendment Regulation 2012 Cap 295F
c Shipping and Port Control Amendment Regulation Cap 313A
d Merchant Shipping Local Vessels General Amendment Regulation Cap 548F and
e Merchant Shipping Local Vessels Fees Amendment Regulation Cap 548J

A spokesman for the Transport and Logistics Bureau said Amid the global transition towards green shipping the international maritime industry is accelerating the adoption of green maritime fuels to achieve maritime decarbonisation The proposed legislative amendments will rearrange anchorages to provide additional sea room which will increase significantly from 645 hectares to 2 877 hectares to facilitate green maritime fuel bunkering operations In addition a more tradefriendly fee structure will be introduced for Government Mooring Buoys GMBs The amendments will offer greater convenience to vessels visiting Hong Kong for green maritime fuel bunkering in future further consolidating Hong Kongs position as a green maritime fuel bunkering centre

Using green maritime fuels is the most effective way to achieve maritime decarbonisation The Transport and Logistics Bureau promulgated the Action Plan on Green Maritime Fuel Bunkering the Action Plan in November 2024 setting out five strategies and 10 measures to develop Hong Kong into a green maritime fuel bunkering centre Among them the Action Plan proposes optimising the port layout to facilitate the mooring of green maritime fuel bunkering barges thereby enhancing the operational flexibility of green maritime fuel bunkering

The proposed legislative amendments cover the optimisation of the layout of anchorages and port facilities These include establishing seven new anchorages adjusting the boundaries of eight anchorages converting three dangerous goods anchorages or service anchorages into multipurpose anchorages repealing two existing anchorages formalising two existing recommended Traffic Separation Schemes TSSs into local statutory TSSs and introducing a more tradefriendly fee structure for GMBs These measures will ensure that the Hong Kong Port has sufficient sea room to meet the demand for green maritime fuel bunkering services Furthermore the Government proposes to repeal a dangerous goods anchorage and a designated bunkering area located near residential areas and to make corresponding adjustments to other anchorages and designated bunkering areas to minimise potential impacts on nearby communities

The Panel on Economic Development of the Legislative Council the Pilotage Advisory Committee the Port Operations Committee the Local Vessels Advisory Committee the High Speed Craft Consultative Committee and the Dangerous Goods Standing Committee have been consulted on the legislative proposals Relevant District Councils including Tsuen Wan Sham Shui Po Kwai Tsing Tai Po Tuen Mun Sai Kung and Islands District Councils relevant Rural Committees in the Islands District and fishermens representatives have also been consulted All parties supported the proposals or raised no objection

The proposed amendment regulations will be submitted to the Legislative Council on October 7 for negative vetting