Lawmakers call on Hong Kong to import SkyShuttle system after visiting BYD base
The Legislative Council delegation to the Greater Bay Area took a test ride on the SkyShuttle, also known as Cloud Bus, at the BYD base in Shenzhen on Saturday, as lawmakers called for the technology to be adopted in Hong Kong.
SkyShuttle is a driverless railway system with a small dynamic envelope and tight turning radius that runs on electricity.
Beginning the second day of their visit, the delegation led by Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu arrived at the BYD base at 10 am. They put on headphones and listened to the tour guide’s introduction of the BYD’s factory and equipment.
Lawmaker Ngan Man-yu from the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB) pointed out that the Kowloon district urgently needs a mass transit system as hundreds of thousands of residents are having difficulties in “going downhill.”
Ngan added he has learned that authorities are working relentlessly on the feasibility studies and research for the proposed Kowloon East mass transit system, including traveling to Shenzhen and Zhuzhou, Hunan Province, to assess the SkyShuttle and intelligent rail technology on site.
Independent lawmaker Gary Zhang Xinyu said he was sure the SkyShuttle technology could be implemented in Hong Kong and overcome existing construction difficulties.
DAB lawmaker Elizabeth Quat Pei-fan also agreed the construction and technology of the SkyShuttle can fit into Hong Kong’s development as she pointed to the narrow roads in the city and the low cost and small construction space of the project.
She added the “in-depth exchanges” this time would better promote the development of Hong Kong’s transportation system.