The government must tackle two high-level issues to achieve smart mobility. First, it must reaffirm that public transport is the centre of mobility, and create a “pecking order” of pedestrians first, road-based mass transit second, and private cars last.

Second, the government must resolve to improve road-based mass transport systems, like Singapore and London have. Non-franchised bus, taxi and minibus operators hold licences that have appreciated significantly in value, but are likely to decrease if supply rises. The Transport Department has defended these interests, to the detriment of the public.

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If the government successfully tackles these issues, we might expect an expansion of mass transit. Buses and minibuses would operate faster and with more frequency. Railways might be less crowded. Walking would be more pleasant. There might even be legally operated shared car services and private car growth would slow. Congestion and illegal parking issues would be alleviated.

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Finally, we can add in again the technological aspects from the smart city blueprint, like massive travel data, real-time traffic information, 5G infrastructure and sensors everywhere. Besides the world-class railway system, there exists a dense and extensive road system where buses and minibuses could operate with greater speed than private cars, re-route in real-time depending on demand patterns, eliminate and create bus stops on-demand, adjust frequencies dynamically and communicate with commuters via an intelligent app.

For those who prefer tailored services, electric private hire vehicles could be available. Sensors on vehicles and roads could reduce accidents, while the entire system produces less pollution. Hong Kong would then be well on its way to true leadership in smart mobility.

Evan Auyang is chairman of Civic Exchange