Authorities on Friday announced an action plan on green maritime fuel bunkering, which aims to reduce carbon emissions from the cargo industry and expand the use of green maritime fuels among government fleets and ships registered in the city.

The government wants to switch 55 percent of the diesel-fuelled vessels to green maritime fuels by 2026, and cut carbon emissions at the Kwai Tsing Container Terminals by 30 percent in 2030 compared with 2021.

Speaking at a press conference, transport minister Lam Sai-hung said Hong Kong is currently ranked seventh as a global bunkering hub, offering strategic advantages for international ships.

"At the present moment, we do not have any forecast on the economic benefits. But one of the side benefits of attracting ships to use our bunkering services is that... there will be opportunities for them to use our cargo handling," he said.

"There are also opportunities for them to use the Hong Kong maritime services. So this would be added values for Hong Kong to ensure that we maintain [our role] as the international maritime centre."

Asked about difficulties in transitioning to green fuels, Director of Marine Wong Sai-fat said existing engines are tailor-made for specific fuel types and can't easily switch to alternatives like LNG or methanol.

"By large, the government vessels are using the diesel engine and the petrol engine. For the use of the petrol engine, it's using the petroleum, and that is not easy or straightforward that you can use other alternative fuel to replace the petrol engine," he said.

But Wong added that diesel engines are more adaptable and can mix with biofuel, which is already being used in several government vessels.

The government also said it will provide training to nurture talent in the field of green maritime fuel, with 50 people expected to be trained by 2026.