Shelving of Hong Kong cruise terminal on-shore power plan draws lawmakers’ disapproval
Shelving of plans for plug-in power for ships at Kai Tak cruise terminal is dereliction of duty on public health, lawmaker says
Lawmakers have criticised a government move to shelve plans for electric power for ships at the Kai Tak cruise terminal, arguing most Hongkongers would be willing to spend the money for such a system if it is in the interests of public health.
The government said last month it would set aside the plan to have facilities for vessels to plug into electric power at berths rather than leaving a vessel's engines running. It said the system would be costly and one that few cruise liners would use.
Environment secretary Wong Kam-sing said an electric system would lower emissions at berths but would leave the terminal underused because few ships around the world were equipped with the technology.
"The use of on-shore power systems will be costly," Wong said at a meeting of the Legislative Council's environmental affairs panel yesterday.
"It will be hard to get cruise companies to use the system in Asia. The few using it are plying North American routes."
An Environmental Protection Department study found only 35 international cruise ships would be equipped with on-shore power systems by the end of this year - about 16 per cent of all international cruise liners.
