A system of unmanned vehicles running between the airport island, Tung Chung and the HKBCF will be completed by 2027–28.

A series of projects at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) are being implemented progressively as part of the “Airport City” blueprint by Airport Authority Hong Kong (AA). The 10-year HK$40bn plan will enhance the airport’s capacity and functionality while at the same time transforming it into a new landmark.

One of the projects in the AA blueprint is to introduce an autonomous vehicle (AV) transportation system on the Airport City Link (ACL) to connect the Hong Kong Boundary Crossing Facilities Island and SKYCITY, and extend the system to Tung Chung town center.

AVs utilize digital technology to minimize human intervention, and driverless assistance systems use advanced technology to recognize and interact with their environment. More than merely recognizing their environment, AVs also need to interact and communicate with other vehicles, infrastructure facilities and passengers.

In addition to the managing AV technologies in the Airport Autonomous Transportation System, AA would require consultancy in related advanced technologies such as Vehicle-to-everything (V2X), cybersecurity, functional safety and vehicle type & engineering certifications. Also, for day-to-day AV operations, AA has to aspects such as:

  • automotive functional safety
  • information security
  • whole vehicle and component product testing and certification
  • certification and testing of onboard wireless communications
  • safety assessments for domestic/foreign autonomous vehicles
  • safety assessments for autonomous driving courses
  • independent verification and validation for smart transportation services

These comprehensive end-to-end operations have been contracted out to TÜV Rheinland Hong Kong—the first commercial autonomous transportation system in Hong Kong, and also the first Greater China autonomous vehicle system advisory project for the German firm.

According to Jack So Chak-kwong, Chairman, AA: “The implementation of the Airport City development blueprint will strengthen the development of Lantau and HKIA as the ‘double gateway’ to the world and the Greater Bay Area, propelling the economic development of Hong Kong and the region.”