Which Side of the Road Do Cars Drive on in Hong Kong?
3 Answers
In Hong Kong, vehicles drive on the left side of the road, while in mainland China, they drive on the right. Due to historical reasons, Hong Kong follows 'left-hand' traffic rules, whereas the mainland follows 'right-hand' rules. Consequently, when Hong Kong returned to China in 1997, the 'one country, two systems' principle was applied to road traffic regulations. Mainland vehicles entering Hong Kong must adhere to Hong Kong's left-hand driving rule. There are two types of Guangdong-Hong Kong license plates: 1. Application for private cars to enter and exit the mainland with a valid license plate. 2. Application for temporary entry license plates for vehicles entering China. Mainland vehicles cannot enter Hong Kong: Hong Kong's driver's license differs from that of the mainland. Drivers holding a mainland license can only drive in Hong Kong after obtaining a Hong Kong driver's license; otherwise, it is considered illegal driving. All vehicles in Hong Kong are left-hand drive, and right-hand drive vehicles are not permitted, so mainland vehicles cannot be driven into Hong Kong.
I've lived in Hong Kong for many years, and driving on the left has always been the norm here, which is completely different from driving on the right in mainland China. Newcomers need some time to adjust. When I was learning to drive, I always instinctively wanted to drive on the right, but my instructor kept correcting me, saying that driving on the left is the rule here, otherwise it would be chaotic and prone to accidents. Hong Kong's roads are narrow and crowded, so driving on the left makes traffic flow more smoothly, especially on highways and in tunnels, reducing the risk of collisions. Even mainland vehicles coming here need to adjust. I recommend practicing driving on the left before hitting the road, paying attention to road signs and safety warnings. After all, not being in sync with the traffic can cause trouble, and you might even get fined by the police.
I've been driving a taxi for fifteen years, on the road every day, and I always keep in mind Hong Kong's rule of driving on the left—safety comes first. Without left-side driving, intersections would be chaotic, and the principle of giving priority to right-turning vehicles relies on it. When friends from the mainland come over, I make a special point to remind them not to drive according to the right-side habit, to fasten their seatbelts, and to adapt to the left-side position. In poor visibility conditions like rain or fog, driving on the left helps see oncoming headlights clearly, reducing side collisions. This rule dates back to the British colonial era, similar to Macau, and hasn't changed—following it makes things easier and safer.
