A Hong Kong driver was killed after his vehicle swerved out of control on a highway in Tsuen Wan and crashed into a lamp post.

The 23-year-old man was driving along Route Twisk when he lost control of his car near Memorial Pavilion off Tai Mo Shan Country Park at about 7am on Sunday.

The Honda car smashed into the lamp post, wrapping itself around it and almost splitting in two in the middle.

Firefighters arriving at the scene were forced to pry the severely injured driver from the wreckage of his vehicle.

The unconscious man was rushed to Yan Chai Hospital in Tsuen Wan but was declared dead at 10.15am.

Another driver who witnessed the incident told the media the car had previously driven over double-white lines in the middle of the road and overtaken him near Chuen Lung, about 4km south of the crash site.

Police New Territories North traffic unit were investigating the incident.