Towngas Chairman Dr Lee Ka-kit Meets with National Energy Administration to Advance New Quality Productive Forces in the Energy Sector
Dr Lee Ka-kit, Chairman of The Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited (Towngas), led a senior delegation to Beijing for a high-level meeting with Mr Wang Hongzhi, Administrator of the National Energy Administration (NEA). The purpose of the meeting was to explore how Towngas can more deeply integrate into China’s national energy development framework by cultivating “new quality productive forces,” a concept increasingly emphasized in China’s economic and energy policies. The discussions focused on strengthening cooperation in energy transition, promoting technological innovation, and advancing the country’s broader green development agenda.
Delegation and Meeting Overview
Dr Lee was joined by a senior leadership team that included Mr Alan Chan Ying-lung, Executive Director and Chief Investment Officer of Towngas and Co-Chairman of EcoCeres; Ms Gu Jing, Senior Vice President and Chief Representative of Towngas’s Beijing Office; and several other top management representatives. Together, they met with Mr Wang Hongzhi and senior officials from multiple NEA departments, including the Department of Science and Technology, the Department of New and Renewable Energy, and the Department of International Cooperation.
At the start of the meeting, Dr Lee expressed his sincere gratitude to Mr Wang for making time in his schedule to host the Towngas delegation. He also acknowledged the consistent support and guidance provided by the NEA toward Towngas’s energy business over the years. This long-standing cooperation, Dr Lee emphasized, has been crucial to the company’s ability to expand operations on the mainland and align with the national dual carbon strategy—China’s commitment to peak carbon emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060.
Following Dr Lee’s remarks, Mr Alan Chan Ying-lung provided a detailed briefing on the latest progress and development plans of Towngas’s mainland operations. He highlighted key achievements in energy technology innovation, low-carbon initiatives, and the role of Towngas in contributing to the country’s energy transition. He also outlined how Towngas intends to expand its participation in renewable energy, green hydrogen, waste-to-value projects, and other cutting-edge technologies that support the transformation of China’s energy system.
NEA’s Support and Alignment with National Policy
In response, Mr Wang welcomed Dr Lee and the delegation, noting that Towngas has made remarkable contributions to energy technology advancement and low-carbon development in both Hong Kong and mainland China. He praised Towngas for its innovative spirit and forward-looking investment strategies, particularly in areas that complement the government’s energy and environmental priorities.
Mr Wang reiterated that the NEA remains committed to implementing national strategies such as the “One Country, Two Systems” principle, the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and other major policy frameworks. Within this context, Towngas is uniquely positioned to leverage its cross-border expertise, Hong Kong’s international connectivity, and decades of experience in energy infrastructure to contribute to both local and national goals.
He further emphasized that Towngas’s development strategies are closely aligned with China’s overarching energy policy, which places a premium on clean, low-carbon, secure, and efficient energy. According to Mr Wang, strengthening communication and collaboration between Towngas and the NEA will create opportunities to accelerate innovation, enhance regional integration, and jointly build a more sustainable energy ecosystem.
Towngas’s Role in China’s Energy Transition
As the oldest and largest integrated energy enterprise in Hong Kong, Towngas plays a central role in the region’s energy supply while expanding its influence across the mainland. Established in 1862, the company has evolved from being a traditional gas supplier into a diversified energy and utilities provider with a focus on innovation, environmental sustainability, and customer service.
In recent years, Towngas has invested heavily in projects that contribute to China’s “dual carbon” targets. These include developing green hydrogen production and utilization, advancing carbon capture and utilization technologies, building renewable energy projects, and exploring bioenergy and circular economy solutions through its subsidiary EcoCeres. The company is also exploring new digital and smart energy technologies, which aim to improve efficiency, reduce emissions, and integrate renewable energy more effectively into existing networks.
The meeting with the NEA provided Towngas with an opportunity to reaffirm its commitment to these initiatives while also receiving guidance on how best to align with national priorities. By positioning itself as a partner in the country’s broader energy transition, Towngas seeks not only to enhance its competitive advantage but also to play an active role in shaping the next phase of China’s energy development.
Building “New Quality Productive Forces”
The concept of “new quality productive forces” has become a key theme in China’s current policy direction. It refers to the creation of advanced, sustainable, and innovation-driven industries that can support high-quality economic growth. In the energy sector, this translates into cleaner production methods, smarter distribution systems, more efficient use of resources, and stronger integration of renewable and digital technologies.
Towngas’s collaboration with the NEA represents a concrete example of how this concept can be implemented in practice. By combining Hong Kong’s advantages as a global financial and innovation hub with mainland China’s scale, policy support, and demand for sustainable energy solutions, Towngas aims to create synergies that contribute to both regional and national development.
