Major mainland technology company Baidu Apollo International Limited has initiated an extensive driverless private vehicle test program across the dense urban settings of Kowloon City and Kwun Tong Districts starting in early November, marking Hong Kong’s first trial of unmanned vehicles within commercial and residential areas. Simultaneously, the Airport Authority has launched public light bus trials using autonomous technology, running between 11Skies and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge Hong Kong Port. These accelerated programs follow years of gradual integration, signaling the city’s commitment to adopting Autonomous Vehicles (AVs) for public and private use, despite ongoing concerns regarding pedestrian safety and traffic management.
Phased Introduction of Driverless Technology
Hong Kong began integrating AV technology into daily operations in 2019, primarily starting with automated operational vehicles at Hong Kong International Airport. Since then, the Transport Department has allowed three proprietors to conduct pilot programs in restricted zones, including the airport, North Lantau, the West Kowloon Cultural District, and the Southern District. The latest trials represent a significant expansion from controlled environments to heavily trafficked urban centers.
Baidu Apollo’s new trial aims to minimize disruption to Hong Kong’s already congested traffic flow. The Transport Department has specifically designated operating windows for the testing phase:
- Mondays to Saturdays: 1 a.m. to 5 a.m., 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.
- Sundays: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Out of the ten scheduled trial vehicles, a maximum of three are permitted to operate concurrently on the designated routes at any given time.
Trial Routes Focus on Key Urban Arteries
The driverless cars will navigate critical infrastructure in Kowloon City and Kwun Tong. The routes include Shing Fung Road, Muk On Street, Kai Shing Street, and Concorde Road in Kowloon City, alongside Kai Wah Street, Wang Kwong Road, and Kai Cheung Road in Kwun Tong. Designated stops during the trials include the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department Headquarters, Skyline Tower, Zero Carbon Park, and Runway 1331.
This expansion into urban districts represents a crucial testing phase for the robustness of autonomous technology in complex, real-world environments characterized by unpredictable pedestrians, varied road conditions, and dense vehicle volumes.
Weighing Innovation Against Safety Concerns
While the official commencement of these urban trials demonstrates the Transport Department’s resolve to introduce autonomous transportation, the rollout occurs amidst persistent public and regulatory safety questions. Collisions involving driverless vehicles have previously been recorded during preliminary trials at the airport, underscoring the complexities of deploying AVs, especially on new road frameworks like those around Kai Tak and in densely populated neighborhoods.
The successful navigation of these crowded environments by Baidu Apollo’s vehicles will prove essential in building public trust and establishing clear regulatory pathways for wider AV adoption. The city sees driverless technology as a solution for future mobility challenges, but the immediate priority remains the guaranteed safety of all road users.
The Transport Department provides ongoing updates and detailed information about current and future AV initiatives on its official website, td.gov.hk.