Hong Kong’s Transport Department (TD) has approved fully driverless trials of autonomous vehicles on Airport Island, allowing participating vehicles to operate without in-vehicle backup operators following successful remote operation testing.
Driverless Trials Expanded
The approval marks the next phase of Hong Kong’s autonomous vehicle testing program after the Transport Department reviewed operational reports and conducted site inspections of previous trials.
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Airport Island trials had previously required both remote control center operators and backup operators inside each vehicle. Following the latest assessment, the department concluded that the vehicles had demonstrated satisfactory safety, operational stability, driving accuracy and overall performance, allowing the removal of onboard personnel.
The wider North Lantau trial program will also expand, with remote backup operators being introduced alongside existing in-vehicle operators on routes serving Tung Chung and Sunny Bay.
Supporting Autonomous Mobility Development
Winnie Tse, Commissioner for Transport, said the introduction of fully remote testing represents an important milestone in Hong Kong’s efforts to advance autonomous mobility.
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“The launch of fully remote testing represents an important step toward achieving the goals of driverless, large-scale and commercialized autonomous vehicle operations.”
She added that she will lead a dedicated autonomous vehicle working group to coordinate future development with industry participants and government departments.
Regulatory Framework Continues to Develop
The Transport Department said vehicles participating in fully driverless trials will carry additional identification markings to make them easily recognizable to other road users and pedestrians.
The department has also invited additional organizations to apply for autonomous vehicle pilot licenses. Applications will be evaluated based on each vehicle’s operating design domain, compliance with relevant technical standards and proposed road testing conditions.
Next Stage of Autonomous Vehicle Testing
The latest approval was issued under Section 20(3)(b) of Hong Kong’s Road Traffic (Autonomous Vehicles) Regulation.
Updated information on the autonomous vehicle trial program has also been published through the Transport Department’s official autonomous vehicle testing platform.
The decision represents another step in Hong Kong’s phased approach to autonomous vehicle deployment, with regulatory approvals continuing to be based on safety evaluations and operational performance as testing expands across the territory.
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