Hong Kong can act as a springboard for Chinese driverless technology
City and nation can benefit from the merging of mainland technological prowess with Hong Kong’s role as a global innovation hub
The Transport Department announced on July 23 that safety requirements were met during earlier remote-operation tests of the technology developed by Chinese tech giant Baidu. While human drivers will no longer be along for the ride, standby controllers will continue to monitor test trips remotely.
Since first licensed in November 2024, the company has expanded the trials from Chek Lap Kok to other parts of North Lantau, Kowloon East and Southern district. Fleet size and speed limits have been increased as designated passenger test runs were conducted.
Some worry that Hong Kong is still moving too slowly. Driverless ride-hailing is already in use in markets including the United States, where Waymo runs autonomous taxi services. Amazon’s Zoox is testing robotaxis in San Francisco and Las Vegas. Apollo Go has deployed fleets in mainland Chinese cities such as Shenzhen.
But the authorities deserve credit for a flexible regulatory approach that has gradually pushed limits while maintaining safety and contingency protocols. One important reason to get it right is that mainland vehicles are left-hand drive. Hong Kong’s opposite traffic pattern requires right-hand drive – a configuration used by roughly a third of the world including the United Kingdom, Japan and India.
Real-world data and operational experience compiled in the city’s dense, complex urban grid is just what developers on the mainland need to prepare for international expansion. They gain a competitive edge from testing frontier technologies in a place where safety standards are honed under international regulatory frameworks.