"Over the next one to two years, we are focused on moving from pilot testing to early-stage scaling," Sammy Kong Siu-kuen, general manager for commercial and industrial marketing and sales at Towngas, recently told Hong Kong Business.

The Hong Kong and China Gas Company, better known as Towngas, launched the city's first hydrogen-powered charging system for a commercial building at its headquarters in North Point in April. Developed with hydrogen equipment manufacturer CIMC Enric, the project supplies zero-carbon electricity for electric vehicle charging using locally produced hydrogen, according to The Standard.

Kong said the company is focusing on applications where conventional electricity infrastructure faces limitations, including construction sites with restricted grid access, commercial facilities and critical operations such as data centers.

Lee Shau Kee (C) and his sons Peter Lee (L) and Martin Lee. Photo from Henderson Land Development's website

Construction projects in Hong Kong often rely on diesel generators when grid connections are delayed or unavailable, creating opportunities for hydrogen-powered alternatives, said Lawrence Iu, executive director of think tank Civic Exchange.

He said hydrogen systems could help developers assess electricity demand before committing to costly and time-consuming grid upgrades.

The technology could also support Hong Kong's efforts to expand electric vehicle charging infrastructure despite land constraints and aging buildings, he said. However, fully electrifying Hong Kong's commercial vehicle fleets would require alternative solutions, as providing charging infrastructure for more than 800,000 vehicles would be difficult, he added.

While Hong Kong's gas network already reaches more than 90% of residents and can carry hydrogen blends, experts said wider adoption will depend on clearer regulations and lower import costs.

Kong said Towngas can currently supply around 34 tonnes of hydrogen per day, which is sufficient for early- and medium-scale projects in Hong Kong.

"By using town gas as a carrier for hydrogen transport and extraction, we avoid the massive upfront capital expenditure required for new production infrastructure."

Peter, 62, and Martin, 54, became co-chairmen of both Towngas and property developer Henderson Land Development in 2019 after succeeding their father, Lee Shau Kee. Lee died in March 2025 at the age of 97.

According to Forbes, the brothers had a combined net worth of $34.9 billion as of February, making them Hong Kong's second-richest individuals.