This undated photo shows an autonomous vehicle that is under trial in Hong Kong. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

The Hong Kong government has so far approved seven projects related to autonomous vehicles and vehicle-to-everything (V2X) technologies as it continues funding and regulatory support for scientific research projects involving autonomous driving and relevant technologies, the city’s transport chief said on Wednesday.

“We launched the HK$1 billion Smart Traffic Fund in 2021 to provide funding support to local organizations or enterprises for conducting research and application on vehicle-related innovation and technology,” Lam Sai-hung said in his written reply to a question in the Legislative Council.

After the government proposed to promote the development of AVs last year, the authorities amended the Road Traffic Ordinance and introduced “Code of Practice (CoP) for Trial and Pilot Use of Autonomous Vehicles” on March 1 this year, setting out the detailed technical, safety and operational requirements of trial and use of AVs and providing guidance on the requirements of vehicle design and construction of AVs.

READ MORE: Govt issues code for trial, pilot use of AVs in HK

Global AV technology is currently being developed in two main streams – "Single Vehicle Intelligence" technology and “Vehicle-Road Coordination" technology. While the first one relies solely on different sensors such as cameras and radars installed on the AVs, the other technology achieves autonomous driving on the basis of "Single Vehicle Intelligence" and by means of V2X and roadside units. 

Our objective is to enhance the competitiveness of the HKIA internationally and attract more flights between Hong Kong and the rest of the world by promoting the use of SAF in Hong Kong.

Lam Sai-hung, Secretary for Transport and Logistics, HKSAR

“As technology continues to develop, vehicle design standards of AVs may also evolve. The Transport Department will update the CoP in a timely manner and review relevant laws to tie in with the latest development of the AV technology,” said the secretary for transport and logistics.

On opening up more public roads to allow larger-scale AV trials, he said: “To ensure that the regulatory regime is flexible and be able to cope with the technological development, the new AV legislation does not limit the area or scale of AV trials.”

The road sections under trials cover public roads and various application scenarios, such as the West Kowloon Cultural District, the Hong Kong Science Park and individual private residential estates. The Airport Authority Hong Kong is expected to deploy its autonomous transportation system from 2025 onwards and carry passengers on the AirportCity Link, which connects the SKYCITY and the Hong Kong Port Island of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge.

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“Applicants may consider and propose the area or scale of trials based on their objectives of trial and use of AVs and apply to the Transport Department for an AV pilot license,” Lam added.

Replying to another query in the LegCo on the use of sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs) by flights to and from Hong Kong, the transport chief said a local airline successfully adopted two batches of SAF at the Hong Kong International Airport in March and July 2022, though the overall supply of SAF worldwide remains on the low side.

“The existing fuel infrastructure at the HKIA is already capable of receiving, storing and adopting pre-blended SAF by airlines,” he said, adding that SAF has the potential to reduce lifecycle carbon emissions by more than 80 percent as compared with conventional fossil aviation fuels.

The AAHK is actively implementing measures to promote the application of SAF at the HKIA with a view to assisting airlines to conduct the relevant carbon offsetting. The relevant work was completed in end-2023 and annual renewal of the certification will be conducted thereafter, he said. 

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The AAHK has also worked with relevant government departments to streamline the approval process for the transportation and storage of SAF to facilitate the uplift of SAF by airlines in Hong Kong. 

“Our objective is to enhance the competitiveness of the HKIA internationally and attract more flights between Hong Kong and the rest of the world by promoting the use of SAF in Hong Kong,”