Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-Chiu (front, second from right), President of the LegCo Andrew Leung Kwan-yuen (front, second from left) and the Secretary for Environment and Ecology Tse Chin-wan (front, left) listen to an introduction on FinDreams Powertrain's e-Axle products by Chairman and President of BYD Company Ltd Wang Chuanfu (front, right) at the BYD Museum in Shenzhen, China, on April 22, 2023. (PHOTO / HKSAR GOVERNMENT)

Members of a top-level delegation of government officials and legislators from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region were impressed by the advanced electric-vehicle technologies and a self-developed small-capacity rail transportation system of BYD after inspecting them at the Shenzhen-based manufacturing conglomerate on Saturday.

Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-Chiu noted that the SAR’s Transport and Logistics Bureau has been actively exploring the feasibility of developing green mass transportation projects to strengthen the city’s development in green transportation and carbon neutralization

They hope to use these technologies to boost Hong Kong’s green transportation projects and better leverage the expertise of Chinese mainland cities in research, production and marketing.

A total of 83 lawmakers and several principal HKSAR government officials, led by Chief Executive John Lee Ka-Chiu, began a four-day tour of mainland cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area on Friday. 

The delegation toured BYD’s headquarters in Shenzhen’s Pingshan district on Saturday morning. Wang Chuanfu, founder and chief executive officer of the company, briefed the visitors on BYD’s latest achievements in electricity-driven vehicles and components, such as batteries. 

BYD also introduced its “SkyShuttle” — an electric, unmanned rail transportation system — to the delegation. The small-capacity transit system boasts low energy consumption and noise. Its trains have a strong climbing ability to run on complex terrains. The company said the entire system can be built in a short time.

ALSO READ: GBA trip highlights development, collaboration

Lee, who tried out the operations of the "SkyShuttle”, said it’s like an airborne version of the light rail. As the construction of the system’s tracks requires less space, it can also be used in narrow terrains, he said. 

Lee noted that the SAR’s Transport and Logistics Bureau has been actively exploring the feasibility of developing such green mass transportation projects to strengthen the city’s development in green transportation and carbon neutralization. He said he’ll brief bureau officials on what he saw and gained during the visit on his return to Hong Kong.

Legislator Scott Leung Man-kwong said their tour of BYD’s facilities has allowed more SAR officials and lawmakers to have a better understanding of the operations of “SkyShuttle”, and hopes the SAR will consider introducing such technology to its railway projects in complex geographical conditions.

Liu Xueliang, general manager of BYD’s Asia-Pacific Auto Sales Division, told Hong Kong media the “SkyShuttle” is quite suitable for the SAR. As the Hong Kong authorities plan to build an elevated trackless rapid transit system in East Kowloon, BYD is also considering building a clean and environmentally-friendly transportation system in Hong Kong, and the “SkyShuttle” will be included in the project.

ALSO READ: CE leads delegation to begin four-day GBA trip in Shenzhen

Lawmaker Stanley Li Sai-wing said BYD plans to launch a 7-seater electric-car model in Hong Kong next year. But, he’s worried that charging piles could be scarce in some locations in Hong Kong, such as the Legislative Council building. 

“Many LegCo members drive to work and might have to take turns to charge those vehicles,” he said. Li suggests that more parking and charging facilities for electric vehicles should be built along with the expansion of the Legislative Council complex.

Legislator Elizabeth Quat Pui-fan said BYD’s success lies in the company’s emphasis on the ability of independent research and development, pattern registration, commercialization and a robust scientific research team of more than 70, 000 people. 

She said Hong Kong also has top universities and research talents, and urged the SAR government to make full use of the advantages of nearby mainland cities in research, production and marketing to boost Hong Kong’s scientific innovation. 

Following the BYD tour, members of the Hong Kong delegation split into two groups – one visited the Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Youth Innovation and Entrepreneur Hub and DJI, DJI, a world-renowned drone producer. The other went to mainland Internet giant Tencent.

The two groups will arrive in Dongguan and Foshan separately on Saturday evening, and have dinner with principal officials of the two mainland cities.