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Willa Wu

Lo Hoi-ying

Hong Kong authorities have vowed to investigate a mainland Chinese driver under the southbound travel vehicle scheme and may suspend his eligibility after he posted a video of himself using automatic cruising illegally in the city on social media.
The Transport Department said on Friday that it had issued a warning to the driver and had notified mainland authorities about the case.
It also urged Guangdong motorists under the “Southbound Travel for Guangdong Vehicles (Entry into Urban Area)” scheme to use Octopus cards for car park access and payment, and to comply with local traffic laws.
A video showing the driver switching to automatic cruising in Hong Kong circulated on popular online platforms RedNote and Facebook.
In the video, the man was driving Chinese electric vehicle maker Xpeng’s P7 sedan on the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge. He took his hands off the steering wheel for a period while the car was said to be controlled by the Navigation Guided Pilot system, an autonomous driving feature.
In a reply to the Post, the department said that as driver assistance systems involved processing road information and traffic rules, any automated driving system not approved by the department must not be used on Hong Kong roads.
“As Hong Kong’s traffic rules differ from those on the mainland, using this system may result in driving violations; therefore, such systems should not be used on Hong Kong roads,” it said.
The department said it was “seriously looking” into the case and would issue a warning to the driver for activating automatic cruising in Hong Kong. It added that his permit might be suspended.
“Unless the driver provides a reply to the satisfaction of the Transport Department, the travel booking eligibility will be suspended,” it said.
The department added that a notice had been issued to all users registered under the scheme reminding them not to use unauthorised automatic driving systems.
“Drivers using any driver control assistance systems without the Transport Department’s approval may commit an offence under traffic regulations, which is liable on conviction to fines or imprisonment,” it said.
The department said it had notified authorities in Guangdong about the warning letter and continued to maintain close contact on matters related to the scheme.
In the notice, the department reminded drivers under the southbound scheme not to activate their vehicles’ autonomous driving systems while driving on Hong Kong roads, due to differences in traffic signs, signals and road markings between the city and the mainland.

The scheme, which allows cars from the neighbouring province to enter the city directly via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge, began on Tuesday and has a quota of 100 drivers daily.
Another social media post showed that a driver under the scheme was fined HK$320 (US$41) for illegally parking on Pitt Street in Yau Ma Tei.
The driver, who posted on RedNote, said he was unable to find a legal parking space after driving around the area.
“I was so hungry that I parked my car in a place without any yellow lines or parking meters … It’s not that I did not have the money for the parking fee, I just did not find a parking spot,” he wrote.
Police said drivers would be issued with an electronic fixed penalty notice for any traffic contravention, adding that authorities had the contact details of all applicants under the southbound scheme.
It added that those fined should settle their penalties via e-payment, in person while in Hong Kong, or through relatives.
Separately, on Thursday, the Transport Department posted parking tips on its social media accounts for scheme drivers after some complained they did not possess Octopus cards and that payment systems at some car parks were located on the right-hand side of vehicles.
The department said most car parks in Hong Kong accept Octopus payment, with 151 private and government-run facilities also supporting mainland payment methods.
It told the Post that both public and private car park operators were “proactively enhancing” their facilities to provide greater convenience for Guangdong drivers, including contactless parking for left-hand-drive vehicles, acceptance of mainland payment systems and installation of Chinese national standard charging facilities.
The department said that, after liaising with operators of popular mainland navigation apps, updates had been made to Hong Kong maps to display car parks with these enhanced facilities, particularly those near tourist hotspots.
“Guangdong drivers are encouraged to use Octopus for accessing and payment at most car parks,” it added.
Currently, more than 60 charging poles are in operation, with additional ones to be installed in the future.
The department added that most charging poles in Hong Kong car parks used the European standard and that mainland vehicle owners should bring suitable charging adaptors.


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Hong Kong probes mainland Chinese driver for using banned autopilot mode in city

The driver uploaded a video of himself using adaptive cruise control illegally on the city’s roads on social media. Photo: RedNote

The Transport Department has issued a notice to all users registered under the southbound travel vehicle scheme reminding them not to use unauthorised automatic driving systems. Photo: RedNote

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The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge. Photo: Xinhua

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Mainland Chinese drivers enter the city via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge. Photo: Handout

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The “Southbound Travel for Guangdong Vehicles” scheme allows approved private cars from Guangdong to enter the city directly via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge. Photo: Martin Chan

The Transport Department says that it does not expect the scheme to worsen the city’s traffic conditions. Photo: Handout

News

Hong Kong

Transport

Transport Department says driver under the southbound scheme may lose eligibility after filming himself using automatic cruise control


Transport Department says driver under the southbound scheme may lose eligibility after filming himself using automatic cruise control.


China

Xpeng

Hong Kong probes mainland Chinese driver for using banned autopilot mode in city

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Transport Department says driver under the southbound scheme may lose eligibility after filming himself using automatic cruise control

Transport Department says driver under the southbound scheme may lose eligibility after filming himself using automatic cruise control