TD Approves Pilot Licence for Autonomous Vehicles Trial for West Kowloon "Air-Rail Intermodal Service"

2026-08-11 16:00 Last Updated At：17:03

TD approves pilot licence for autonomous vehicles trial for West Kowloon "Air-Rail Intermodal Service"

The Transport Department (TD) announced today (August 11) that a pilot licence for autonomous vehicles (AVs) has been issued to approve an AV trial between Hong Kong West Kowloon Station of the Express Rail Link (XRL) and Kowloon Station of the Airport Express, in accordance with section 4(1) of the Road Traffic (Autonomous Vehicles) Regulation (Cap. 374AA).

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The Transport Department, Photo by Bastille Post

Hong Kong West Kowloon Station of the Express Rail Link, Photo source: reference image

Kowloon Station of the Airport Express, Photo source: reference image

Driverless test on Airport Island, Photo source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

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The Transport Department, Photo by Bastille Post

Hong Kong West Kowloon Station of the Express Rail Link, Photo source: reference image

Kowloon Station of the Airport Express, Photo source: reference image

Driverless test on Airport Island, Photo source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The trial involves four private cars operating in autonomous mode, routeing through Wui Man Road, Jordan Road, Nga Cheung Road, Station Perimeter Road South, Station Perimeter Road East and Station Perimeter Road North. During the trial, a backup operator will be stationed in the vehicle at all times to take over control of the vehicle when necessary. The TD's pilot AV labels must 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 the Government has been promoting the development of AVs in an active and orderly manner through a multipronged approach by providing policy support, regulatory backing and financial subsidy. This project will demonstrate the safety, stability and operational feasibility of AV technologies in an environment with high passenger flows and complex traffic dynamics. By successfully operating within such a multimodal transport hub, the project will establish an extensible operating mode that will serve as a cornerstone for integrating the AV fleet into the wider public transport network in future.

Once the AVs commence regular operation, they will establish a seamless and autonomous driving connection between Hong Kong West Kowloon Station of the XRL and Kowloon Station of the Airport Express. This will provide travellers with a convenient choice to further enhance their travel experience, thereby attracting more travellers to use the XRL and the Hong Kong International Airport, the spokesman added.

Driving and road safety remain the Government's top priorities. The Government will draw on practical experience to refine technical standards, share research findings with the industry in a timely manner, and implement initiatives to promote AVs in a prudent and orderly manner. Chaired by the Commissioner for Transport, the Autonomous Vehicle Applications Promotion Working Group will, in collaboration with relevant departments and the industry, review the progress of each AV project; provide steer on the trial locations, vehicle types and licensing arrangements required to support the commercial development of AVs; and explore appropriate regulatory arrangements to allow AVs to provide a certain degree of commercial services in specific areas on an individual pilot basis.

The TD welcomes interested organisations or enterprises to submit applications for a pilot licence for AVs. Upon receipt of an application, the TD will consider various factors, including the operational design domain and functions of the autonomous driving system, relevant national or international standards/guidelines, and the road testing conditions, based on the Code of Practice for Trial and Pilot Use of Autonomous Vehicles, before granting approval.

Youth Leaders Corps Explores Belt and Road Initiative Through Summer Tours in Guangxi, Singapore, and Malaysia.

Immigration Department Youth Leaders Corps' Belt and Road summer exchange tours conclude

To deepen young people's understanding of national strategies and the international landscape, the Immigration Department Youth Leaders Corps (IDYL) organised a series of summer exchange tours under the theme of "IDYL Belt and Road Exploration Tours", including the Guangxi Tour to the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and the Singapore and Malaysia Tour to Singapore and Malaysia, engaging a total of 60 IDYL members as scheduled. Through a diverse range of activities, the tours aimed to provide a comprehensive introduction to the Belt and Road Initiative (B&RI) as well as the culture and development of the relevant countries or regions, enabling young people to tell good stories of Hong Kong from their perspectives.

Led by the Deputy Director of Immigration (Enforcement, Systems and Management), Mr Choi Chi-yuen, and Deputy Commissioner of the IDYL Advisory Committee Mr Chu Man-yin, members of the Guangxi Tour visited cities such as Nanning, Fangchenggang and Chongzuo between July 20 and 26 to conduct on-site studies of the country's efforts to drive forward the New Western Land-Sea Corridor, which was at the forefront of its collaboration with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. They also went to visit the China-Vietnam border, namely the Dongzhong, Dongxing and Youyiguan control points, to gain an in-depth understanding of immigration operations and trade developments along the China-Vietnam border, thereby better understanding the country's strategic layout in regional connectivity.

In addition, tour members visited the Guangxi Silver Wing Power Technology Company Limited to learn about the country's development of high-tech industries, and conducted exchanges with local young people at the Nanning Vocational and Technical University. They experienced Zhuang culture and jointly explored the way of passing on traditions while pioneering the future.

The six-day, five-night Singapore and Malaysia Tour was also held from August 5 to 10. Travelling to various cities in Singapore and Malaysia, tour members visited Singapore's Changi Airport and Tuas Checkpoint to obtain insights into the air and land immigration control facilities and policies of the Singapore Immigration & Checkpoints Authority, and went to local enterprises to experience firsthand the economic opportunities brought by the B&RI.

During the journey, tour members also paid a visit to the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Malaysia to understand overseas consular protection work and the country's pursuit of promoting the B&RI. They also went to the Xiamen University Malaysia to find out how the Chinese Mainland's higher education integrates into the B&RI, and exchanged views with local young people and overseas Chinese. The itinerary also included visits to landmarks such as the National Museum of Singapore, the Chan She Shu Yuen Clan Ancestral Hall and the Petronas Twin Towers, allowing tour members to immerse themselves in the local culture.

Both exchange tours under this year's IDYL Belt and Road Exploration Tours were partially funded by the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau and the Youth Development Commission. The IDYL will continue to organise exchange programmes of various themes to deepen young people's understanding of national affairs, facilitate their integration into the overall national development, and broaden their international horizons. Young people will be encouraged to capitalise on Hong Kong's unique advantage of having strong support from the motherland while being closely connected to the world, and proactively tell the world good stories of China and Hong Kong with their experiences and insights gained during the journeys.

TD Approves Pilot Licence for Autonomous Vehicles Trial for West Kowloon "Air-Rail Intermodal Service"

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