The following is issued on behalf of the Transport Advisory Committee:
The Transport Advisory Committee (TAC) was briefed today (October 25) on the legislative proposal for the establishment of a regulatory framework for autonomous vehicles (AVs).
In recent years, competitive edges in AV technologies have considerably advanced with the promising advantages of enhancing road safety by eliminating human errors, thereby making more efficient use of limited road space. The Government is working on a legislative proposal to establish a regulatory framework for AVs under the Road Traffic Ordinance (Cap. 374) in order to facilitate wider and more flexible trials and pilot use of AVs in Hong Kong. The Government plans to introduce the relevant bill into the Legislative Council before the end of 2022, with a view to implementing the regulatory framework in 2023.
The TAC Chairman, Professor Stephen Cheung, said, "Members support the Government's proposed regulatory framework for AVs. Wider adoption of AVs will enhance road safety and road utilisation, and trials of AVs are being conducted worldwide. The Government's proposal will facilitate the long-term development of AV technologies in Hong Kong and push forward the vision for smart mobility. Members also noted the legislative timetable proposed by the Government."
Ends/Tuesday, October 25, 2022
Issued at HKT 16:48