What Changed
- The Environment and Ecology Bureau, alongside the Tourism Commission, issued an invitation for Expressions of Interest (EOI) for an onshore power supply facility at Kai Tak Cruise Terminal.
- A joint consultancy study established technical feasibility for the facility, while calling for market input to assess commercial viability and economic balance.
- The exercise is explicitly non-procurement in nature, with submissions due by noon on December 14, 2026.
Cruise terminal operators, shipping lines, green infrastructure developers, and investors in the maritime sector are directly affected by a new initiative from the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (Hong Kong SAR). On October 14, 2026, the Environment and Ecology Bureau (EEB), in collaboration with the Tourism Commission (TC), formally invited interested parties to submit expressions of interest (EOIs) for the development of an onshore power supply (OPS) facility at the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal (KTCT).
The initiative forms part of broader efforts to align local port operations with international decarbonization goals established by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The IMO has set targets to peak greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from international shipping as soon as possible and achieve net-zero GHG emissions by or around 2050. As an associate member of the IMO, Hong Kong SAR supports these objectives. Onshore power supply facilities allow cruise vessels to connect to the terrestrial power grid while berthed, thereby reducing auxiliary engine fuel consumption and cutting air pollutant emissions such as nitrogen oxides.
While space for OPS infrastructure was allocated during the original construction of the KTCT, a recent consultancy study commissioned by the EEB and TC examined international port trends, shipboard connection systems, technical requirements, and estimated development costs. The study concluded that installing OPS facilities at the KTCT is technically feasible, though long-term economic benefits and costs require further evaluation. Consequently, the government is conducting this EOI market exercise to gauge private sector interest, assess commercial viability, and inform future development arrangements.
The government highlighted that this EOI exercise is non-binding, does not constitute a tender exercise, and is not part of a formal procurement process. Interested market participants are encouraged to submit proposals covering project delivery models, facility design, operational frameworks, and cost-effectiveness analyses. The submission deadline is noon on December 14, 2026 (Monday).
Who May Be Affected
Cruise terminal operators, maritime power infrastructure providers, shipping companies, and private investors operating in or connecting to Hong Kong SAR.
Cross-Border Context
Hong Kong SAR's maritime decarbonization initiatives support International Maritime Organization (IMO) GHG reduction targets, directly impacting international cruise operators and global port technology suppliers.
What to check next
- Check the EOI document and guidelines published on the Environment and Ecology Bureau website (www.eeb.gov.hk/en/business_job/business_opp/eoi/ops-ktct.html).
- Monitor formal procurement or tendering updates from the Hong Kong SAR Government following the December 14, 2026 submission deadline.
This article provides general information and does not constitute legal advice. Consult the official text and obtain advice appropriate to your circumstances where needed.