Letters | Should Hong Kong go down self-driving car lane?
- Readers discuss the government’s efforts to promote the development of self-driving cars in Hong Kong, and a transport subsidy scheme
At this juncture it is worth asking why Hong Kong should have or needs to have self-driving cars. What benefit do they bring? Will Hong Kong drivers be asked if they want to share our roads with driverless cars?
Our Hong Kong road infrastructure is unique; we have a wonderful road system catering to high volumes of traffic and this system works well. The only people who may want to buy driverless cars are those who can afford them and, by and large, they are the people who have professional drivers to shuttle them about.
Driverless cars are quite simply not suited to Hong Kong road conditions. Let’s spend what’s left in the HK$1 billion Smart Traffic Fund on something more useful, please.
Karl Hurst, Repulse Bay
Refine the HK$2 transport scheme
Given Hong Kong’s deficit and ageing population, a data-driven review of MTR usage patterns is essential. If seniors are travelling during peak hours for work, they should contribute equitably to the system. Conversely, if they are not working, it would be reasonable to encourage off-peak travel to ease congestion.
Let’s refine the HK$2 scheme to reflect both fairness and financial prudence, ensuring it remains viable for those who truly need it.
Simon Wang, Kowloon Tong