Latest news with #TungChung
South China Morning Post
25-06-2025
- Automotive
- South China Morning Post
Answers needed on driverless bus crash in Hong Kong
Who would have thought that more than 60 driverless vehicles, including buses, had been running around Hong Kong International Airport night and day since last year. This is revealed in details that emerged after two unmanned buses collided in a restricted area at Chek Lap Kok. No one was hurt because there were neither drivers nor passengers. But it was potentially serious because the buses shuttle staff around the airport, and unmanned vehicles are taking part in trials on our public roads. The public needs to acknowledge the risk of such incidents. Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu set the right tone with a pledge to find the cause of the collision and a reassurance to residents that authorities will closely supervise companies testing driverless technologies. That is good to hear. Autonomous vehicles are a global trend. To remain competitive, Hong Kong has to keep up with developments without compromising safety. The ultimate goal must be to eliminate driver errors or faults. Lee noted driverless transport was a trend worldwide and autonomous vehicles had been used in the restricted area of the airport for nearly seven years. Hong Kong has been accelerating the development of autonomous driving, with the Transport Department last week extending trial runs to Tung Chung and allowing three private driverless vehicles to operate during each road test. This followed the implementation of a new regulatory framework for self-driving vehicles in March 2024. Since then, authorities have stepped up trials from one vehicle to 10 simultaneously, while raising the speed limit to 50km/h. The buses that crashed were developed by Uisee, a mainland autonomous driving company with its global headquarters in Hong Kong and not reported to have been linked to previous accidents. It has leveraged its airport experience to seek similar contracts overseas, including at Singapore Changi Airport. Uisee launched driverless transport at Hong Kong airport in 2019, first with baggage and cargo tractors, then patrol vehicles. Driverless shuttles for airport staff were introduced in 2023. A Transport and Logistics Bureau investigation must shed light on what happened because it involves serious safety issues in a new dimension of public transport.
South China Morning Post
23-06-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong housing authorities cancel contracts with firm linked to 5 site deaths
Hong Kong housing authorities have terminated three public estate contracts with a construction company linked to five workplace deaths in three accidents, despite the court suspending a ban on its operating licence. The move means all six projects managed by Aggressive Construction Company have been taken over despite the suspension order. The Housing Authority said on Monday that the contractor's performance on three public housing estates was 'far below' contract requirements. A spokesman said it had served a 'notice of re-entry' to the company on the same day, indicating the sites would be taken over. The three affected projects are the underground link of the Pak Tin Estate redevelopment phase 10, the development of about 1,000 public housing flats at Tuen Mun Area 29 West, and about 5,200 homes at Tung Chung Area 100. In May, authorities said Aggressive would be delisted from the government's registered list of contractors starting June 20 due to safety concerns following five fatalities across three accidents – including a 2022 crane tower collapse that killed three workers. The decision was expected to impact construction on thousands of public housing flats. Aggressive later filed an appeal and secured a temporary suspension of the decision from the court last Wednesday. A two-day hearing on its application for a stay of execution and the appeal is scheduled for next month.
South China Morning Post
14-05-2025
- Automotive
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong accelerates self-driving vehicle trials with Tung Chung expansion
Hong Kong has taken a significant step towards autonomous driving services, as the government plans to extend trials to Tung Chung and increase the testing speed to 50km/h (31mph) within the next five months. Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Mable Chan, also announced on Wednesday that there are plans to officially introduce passenger services and commercial applications, such as ride-hailing, within the next couple of years. These trials became possible following the implementation of a new regulatory framework for self-driving vehicles last March. By the end of 2024, two pilot licences had been issued, allowing 12 vehicles operated by Baidu Apollo to conduct tests. 'The progress has been significant, achieving several technological leaps. The testing scale has expanded from a single private car to 10 vehicles operating simultaneously to gather data on multi-vehicle coordination,' Chan told lawmakers at a Legislative Council meeting. She said that, following safety assessments, passenger trials had been conducted on specific routes, and testing would now take place on more complex roads. After trials on routes within the airport island, the government would extend the trials to Tung Chung and Cyberport in the Southern district. Baidu Apollo submitted documents to the Islands District Council on Tuesday, proposing trial routes that would pass through several residential estates and public housing complexes in Tung Chung, including Fu Tung Estate and Yu Tung Court. Three autonomous vehicles will conduct testing between 1am and 5am, and again from 9am to 10am.
