Are cars in Hong Kong left-hand drive or right-hand drive?
2 Answers
Hong Kong cars are right-hand drive. Reasons why Hong Kong drivers use right-hand drive: Hong Kong drivers use right-hand drive because Hong Kong was a British colony from 1842 to 1997, and British vehicles also drive on the left side with right-hand steering, so Hong Kong adopted the left-hand traffic rule. Evolution process: Driving on the right or left side was not fixed from the beginning but evolved over time. According to the British, left-hand driving can be traced back to the ancient Roman Empire. In medieval Europe, whether to drive on the left or right was initially based on the habits of knights. Due to historical reasons, Hong Kong follows left-hand traffic rules, while mainland China follows right-hand rules. Therefore, when Hong Kong returned to China in 1997, the "one country, two systems" approach was adopted for road traffic issues. Mainland vehicles entering Hong Kong must follow Hong Kong's left-hand driving rule. Conversely, Hong Kong vehicles entering the mainland must also adapt to local customs.
Having driven for many years, I distinctly remember that cars in Hong Kong all have right-hand drive steering wheels! This is completely different from my driving habits on the mainland. Because Hong Kong was once a British colony, its road system inherited British rules, with vehicles driving on the left and the steering wheel on the right. In daily life, I need to be extra careful with turn signals and turning maneuvers, especially when making right turns at intersections, as it's easier to observe oncoming traffic, but left turns feel a bit awkward, requiring more focus on pedestrians. Why hasn't it been changed to left-hand drive? Mainly due to historical reasons that persist to this day, avoiding traffic chaos and safety issues. Interestingly, when parking on Hong Kong streets, the right-hand steering wheel allows me to get closer to the curb, making getting in and out of the car much easier and reducing door collisions on narrow streets. Overall, once adapted, it's quite efficient. I recommend new drivers to read more local driving guides.
