Paving the way for a more integrated and efficient mobility future in Hong Kong

Hong Kong is renowned for its convenient and diversified public transport system, yet the system is still navigating a complex landscape filled with both challenges and opportunities.

With continuous growth of licensed vehicles, changes in travel demands, patterns and behaviours, as well as closer connections with the Greater Bay Area (GBA), there is an urgent need for more innovative and efficient transport solutions to optimise the transport capacity and address the evolving needs of residents and visitors.

In response to these pressing issues, the Hong Kong SAR Government launched the ‘Smart Mobility Roadmap’ in 2019, aiming to enhance urban mobility through innovative technologies and systems. This includes the implementation of various traffic control systems that utilise sensing technologies such as thermal detection, LiDAR, optical imaging and radar sensors. These technologies enable real-time monitoring of traffic and pedestrian volumes, helping to alleviate congestion during peak hours. Additionally, the launch of the ‘HKeMobility’ mobile app provides users with real-time, multi-modal transport information, making journey planning more efficient and convenient.

Despite the efforts and progress made in advancing Hong Kong’s smart mobility journey, there are still gaps that need to be addressed in order to achieve a smoother and more integrated mobility experience. A key element in this is data integration and analysis.

Currently, available datasets are fragmented, making it difficult to consolidate them for better and actionable insights. However, data is crucial for Hong Kong to develop a comprehensive transport overview. With over 11.5 million trips made daily, around 90% of which are via public transport, Hong Kong’s public transport usage is among the highest in the world.

Improved data collection and analysis are essential for monitoring traffic patterns and making informed decisions regarding infrastructure development and traffic management.

While privacy concerns over data sharing remain a significant barrier, establishing secure, compatible and up-to-date data systems is vital in improving the planning and operation of Hong Kong’s transport system. The government and relevant stakeholders must go the extra mile to collect and contribute data, creating a safe and protected platform that consolidates usable, effective and interoperable travel data to generate holistic insights and develop smarter mobility solutions.

For example, the Transport for London has successfully integrated multi-modal travel information and user-centric services, leveraging data integration and public engagement.

Similarly, Hangzhou’s "City Brain" initiative adopts AI technology to analyse big data and optimise the city’s traffic flow, providing valuable lessons for enhancing urban transport systems.

A few years ago, a study was initiated in partnership with a local university, various transport operators, and e-payment platforms to explore citizens’ travel behaviours. This initiative aimed to create a framework for understanding the motivations behind data sharing and the methods utilized. During the research, a data hashing algorithm was developed to safeguard travellers’ identities, and a consensus-driven data-sharing framework for stakeholders was established. 

The findings highlighted key travel patterns, such as how citizens switch between different modes of transportation at important facilities. The study illustrated how government departments, transport operators, and other relevant entities can work together to enhance interchange environments, improve route and service planning, and optimise existing public transport services.

Looking ahead, the future of smart transport will focus on integrating advanced technologies into existing systems while tackling urban mobility challenges. Rather than placing all the responsibility on the government, the private sector can play an important role at various levels. We are actively collaborating with transport operators and e-payment providers to integrate datasets, aiming to uncover deeper insights into travel behaviours, identify clear patterns of travel and interchange.

Hong Kong stands at a pivotal moment in its pursuit of smarter transport solutions. By leveraging advanced technologies such as big data analytics and intelligent transport systems, Hong Kong will excel in building a more efficient and sustainable transportation network that meets the evolving needs of citizens and visitors. Ongoing data-sharing collaboration among government entities, private companies, academia and citizens is crucial for harnessing data effectively and advancing these initiatives.