Editorial | Driverless tech calls for safety, not speed, in Hong Kong

There is understandable public scepticism about autonomous vehicles, with safety, costs and job losses among concerns raised.

The potential benefits, however, should keep Hong Kong on course to developing driverless technologies.

The city has already been testing eight autonomous vehicles under a HK$127 million (US$16 million) initiative called the Smart Traffic Fund. Secretary for Transport and Logistics Lam Sai-hung said results up to now were promising.

Lam said tests found driverless technology had achieved “level four” performance or “highly automated driving” that can handle most tasks independently. He said progress was in step with that of the mainland and other parts of the world.

It is good to see a measured pace of development. The vehicles are being put through their paces at specific locations including the Science Park, Productivity Council offices, dormitories in Tam Mi and private housing estates.