Lawmakers slam ‘unnecessary’ HK$2 million driverless car that can carry 11 people around the West Kowloon Cultural District

French-designed and manufactured self-driving vehicle expected to carry up to 11 passengers at capped speed of 15km/h around 40-hectare site in future – if approved by Transport Department

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The vehicle was designed and built in France. Photo: Handout

Published: 9:09pm, 6 Jul 2017Updated: 11:47pm, 6 Jul 2017

The operator of Hong Kong’s multibillion dollar arts and culture hub in West Kowloon has bought a HK$2 million autonomous car and proposes buying more as its official ground transportation vehicle, but lawmakers have criticised the idea as “unnecessary” and “expensive”.

The French-designed and manufactured self-driving vehicle is expected to carry up to 11 passengers at a capped speed of 15km/h around the 40-hectare site in future – if it is approved by the Transport Department and passes road tests.

The car can carry up to 11 passengers and goes as fast as 15km per hour. Photo: Handout

The announcement came hot on the heels of Tuesday’s news that the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority removed a hurdle at the Legislative Council to seek an extra HK$3.6 billion to build part of an integrated basement, bringing the arts hub’s estimated total price tag to more than HK$63 billion.

Authority CEO Duncan Pescod said all the district’s normal vehicular traffic would be directed underground in the future.