Hong Kong Transport Department re-approves pilot licences for autonomous vehicles to cover the section between transit car parks and the airport's Haitian Transit Building

The Zhitong Finance App learned that the Hong Kong Transport Department said it will grant another pilot license for autonomous vehicles. The project covers travel from the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Hong Kong Port “transit car park” to the Hong Kong International Airport Haitian Transit Building. The Hong Kong Transport Department stated that it is hoped that after the test, it will switch to operation to facilitate passengers arriving south via Guangdong bus.

The Hong Kong Transport Department announced that it has approved a test project for autonomous vehicles (autonomous vehicles) on designated road sections connected to the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Hong Kong Port “Transit Car Park”. The entire project traveled from the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Hong Kong Port “Transit Car Park” to the Hong Kong International Airport Haitian Transit Building, and the approved test section went from the “transit parking lot” to the entrance of the restricted area of the airport.

During the first phase of testing, each pilot autonomous vehicle will have a backup operator to take over control of the vehicle if necessary. All pilot automatic vehicles must display the Hong Kong Transport Department pilot vehicle label on the vehicle body to help other road users to identify them. Details of the pilot licence have been uploaded to the Hong Kong Transport Department's Autonomous Vehicle Testing website.

The Hong Kong Transport Department stated that it is expected to gradually move towards passenger operation after completing tests to facilitate passengers driving through the “Guangdong Bus Southbound” (port car park), so that passengers can park their cars at the automated “transit car park” and then transfer to the Haitian Transit Building. The Hong Kong Transport Department stated that interested organisations or enterprises are welcome to submit pilot licence applications. After receiving the application, the Department will review and approve various factors such as the scope and function of the design and operation of the autonomous driving system, relevant national or international standards/guidelines, and road testing conditions in accordance with the “Code of Practice for Testing and Pilot Use of Autonomous Vehicles”.