The Transport Department (TD) announced today (October 30) that a pilot licence for autonomous vehicles (AVs) has been issued to approve a cross-district AV trial on Airportcity Link connecting the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) Hong Kong Port and SKYCITY at the airport, in accordance with section 4(1) of the Road Traffic (Autonomous Vehicles) Regulation (Cap. 374AA).

     The approved trial project involves seven public light buses operated by autonomous driving between the HZMB Hong Kong Port and SKYCITY. During the initial stage of the trial, a backup operator will be stationed in the vehicle at all times to take over control when necessary. The TD's label for pilot AV shall be displayed on all pilot AVs for identification by other road users. Details of the pilot licence have been uploaded to the TD's website on AV trials.

     A spokesman for the TD said that, as set out in the Policy Address 2025, three cross-district pilot projects will commence within this year, including the above Airportcity Link between the HZMB Hong Kong Port and the airport, and a project spanning Kowloon City and Kwun Tong Districts, encompassing the Kai Tak Development Area, also announced today. The Government aims to accelerate progress towards driverless and large-scale development and also aspires to achieve commercial operation, encouraging the industry to leverage Hong Kong as a platform to explore overseas markets, particularly those with right-hand drive systems. Driving and road safety remain the top priority, and the Government will draw on practical experience to refine technical standards, share research findings with the industry in a timely manner, and implement these initiatives in a prudent and orderly process.

     The TD welcomes interested organisations or enterprises to submit applications for a pilot licence. Upon receipt of an application, the TD will consider various factors, including the design operating range and functions of the autonomous system, relevant national or international standards/guidelines, and the road test situations, based on the Code of Practice for Trial and Pilot Use of Autonomous Vehicles before approval. Among them, the TD has been accepting submissions of the Guobiao (GB) to substantiate that the vehicles or their components comply with the relevant technical requirements and vehicle construction standards. In addition, the operation experience and performance of AV in areas outside Hong Kong (including the Mainland), such as test reports in accordance with the GB, will be taken into consideration by the TD in evaluating the performance of the vehicle automation.

Ends/Thursday, October 30, 2025
Issued at HKT 11:28

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