Hong Kong Gears up for City’s First Test Run of Fully Driverless Vehicles
Hong Kong's Transport Department has authorised the testing of fully autonomous passenger vehicles at Chek Lap Kok, removing the requirement for a human operator behind the wheel. The vehicles will proceed with remote monitoring, following a review of earlier remote-operation tests which met established safety protocols. This development marks a significant progression in the city's approach to autonomous mobility.
Commissioner for Transport Winnie Tse Wing-yee confirmed that previous autonomous vehicle tests had been "ideal, safe and operating smoothly." Earlier trials, conducted along designated routes at the airport, mandated a human driver inside each vehicle, with a second operator supervising the journey remotely from a dedicated control centre. The current expansion of the trial permits the complete removal of on-board human operators, although remote oversight remains in place for all test vehicles.
Chinese technology organisation Baidu secured Hong Kong's initial pilot licence for autonomous vehicles in Nov. 2024. Since obtaining this authorisation, the company has progressively extended its testing programme beyond Chek Lap Kok. And its operations now include parts of North Lantau, Kowloon East, and the Southern district of the territory. This expansion has also seen an increase in the number of vehicles deployed, alongside an elevation of permitted speed limits and the commencement of designated passenger test runs.
Ms Tse outlined the ongoing requirements for operators, including the submission of comprehensive monthly reports on their trial runs. The department will also conduct on-site inspections and review operations within the remote control centres to ensure continued adherence to safety standards. Protecting the public remains the government's primary consideration, prompting the mandate for operators to develop detailed safety management and contingency plans that cover vehicle, road, and cybersecurity risks.
Each test vehicle must possess valid third-party insurance and be equipped with an electronic data recorder. New labels indicating that a trial is in progress will need to be displayed prominently to assist other road users in identifying these vehicles. When questioned about potential legislative changes required for autonomous vehicles to operate on public roads without on-board attendants - globally recognised as Level 4 autonomy - Ms Tse affirmed the city's current legal framework. She stated it was already sufficiently robust and flexible to regulate this latest phase of testing.
The global standard for vehicle automation, developed by United States-based engineering standards body SAE International, classifies driving automation from Level 0, signifying no driving automation, to Level 5, indicating vehicles drive entirely independently. Ms Tse further noted that authorities are currently processing applications for commercial autonomous vehicle operations and for larger vehicle types. Future expansion of testing into new districts depends on operators' individual business plans.
Ms Tse did not provide a timeline for when driverless testing might advance to the next stage. She reiterated that the department would continue to assess monthly reports from operators and conduct regular inspections. She also cautioned that merely achieving a prescribed testing mileage would not automatically qualify a project for progression. But the authority requires comprehensive data and consistent safety performance.
Baidu, responsible for the Apollo Go platform conducting the trial scheme at Chek Lap Kok, acknowledged the approval. A spokesperson characterised the decision as an important milestone for the advancement of autonomous driving in Hong Kong. Yang Nan, vice-president of Baidu and general manager of its overseas intelligent driving business, stated the company would launch what it described as the world's first driverless trial scheme in a right-hand-drive market later this month.
He confirmed that Baidu had undertaken over a year of extensive testing in Hong Kong since receiving its licence in 2024. By the end of May, Apollo Go vehicles had accumulated a total travel distance exceeding 240,000 kilometres within Hong Kong. Mr Yang expressed the company's intent to continue developing its autonomous driving business in the region safely and effectively. Their objective is to accelerate unmanned and large-scale operations, working towards achieving commercial operations as quickly as possible.
The government has consistently articulated its ambition for autonomous technology to progress towards driverless, scaled-up, and commercialised operations. However, specific details regarding the ultimate form of these services or a concrete timetable for their implementation have not yet been established. Commercial driverless ride-hailing services are already operational in other regions. Waymo provides autonomous taxi services across several cities in the United States. And Zoox, an Amazon subsidiary, is testing purpose-built robotaxis in San Francisco and Las Vegas. In mainland China, Apollo Go operates commercial robotaxi fleets in cities such as Shenzhen.
Hong Kong has approved testing of fully driverless passenger vehicles at Chek Lap Kok airport.
These vehicles will operate without a human driver, but remote monitoring is mandated.
Baidu, operating the Apollo Go platform, received its initial licence in Nov. 2024.
By the end of May, Apollo Go vehicles had covered over 240,000 kilometres in Hong Kong.
The government aims for driverless, scaled-up, and commercialised operations without a set timetable.
Source: SCMP
