Road signs in Hong Kong

Road signs in Hong Kong are standardized by the Transport Department.[1] Due to being a former British territory, the road signage in Hong Kong is similar to road signs in the United Kingdom, with the addition of Chinese characters.

Road signs near Aberdeen Tunnel of Hong Kong

Design and language

Latest road signs with Transport typeface (2015)

Road signs in Hong Kong closely follow those used in the United Kingdom, and complies with the Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals, a legacy of the city's previous British overseas territory status. Signs normally use the Transport Medium typeface on dark backgrounds or Transport Heavy on light backgrounds, which is identical to the use in the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland and most of the current and previous British Overseas Territories

Road signs placed in the 2000s to 2010s commonly use Arial Narrow or Helvetica, with or without a modified letter 'L'; street signs sometimes also use Helvetica. The newest signs built after 2016 have increasingly resumed the use of Transport; some signs on recently completed expressways use Transport Heavy on dark backgrounds.

Writing system on the traffic signs comprises British English and traditional Chinese, two official languages of Hong Kong, in an order of English above Traditional Chinese.

Warnings

Signs warning of hazardous conditions or dangerous situations (e.g. "Intersection" or "Steep incline ahead" bear a black-on-white symbol inside a red-bordered triangle (point uppermost).[2]

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  Stop or give way signs ahead (with distance to line ahead given below)
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  Bend to left ahead (right if symbol reversed)
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  Double bend ahead first to right (symbol may be reversed)
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  Two-way traffic ahead
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  Two-way traffic across a one-way road ahead
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  Dual carriageway ends ahead
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  Roundabout ahead
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  Road narrows ahead on right (left if symbol reversed)
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  Road narrows on both sides ahead
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  Sharp deviation of route (may be used with amber border)
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  Steep hill upwards ahead
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  Steep hill downwards ahead
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  Traffic lights ahead
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  Traffic Accident blackspot ahead
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  Cross roads ahead
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  Staggered junction ahead (symbol may be reversed)
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  Side road ahead (symbol may be reversed)
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  T-junc-tion ahead (symbol may be reversed)
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  Traffic merges from left (right if symbol reversed)
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  Over-head electric cable ahead
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  Quay-side or river bank ahead
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  Risk of falling or fallen rocks ahead
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  Pedestrians on road ahead
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  Pedestrian crossing ahead
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  Children ahead
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  Low-flying aircraft or sudden aircraft noise ahead
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  Horses ahead
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  Cattle ahead
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  Cycles ahead
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  Uneven road ahead
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  Road hump ahead
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  Advice for cyclists
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  Distance to 'Give way' line
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  Distance to 'Stop' line

Regulatory

With the exception of the special shapes used for "Stop" and "Yield" signs (respectively, an octagon and a downward-pointing triangle), signs giving orders are circular and are of two kinds:[3]

Prohibitory signs (e.g. "No left turn") take the form of a black-on-white symbol inside a red-bordered circle, sometimes with the addition of a red slash through the symbol. Mandatory signs (e.g. "Turn right only") bear a white symbol on a blue disk.

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  Give way to traffic on major road
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  Stop and give way
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  Ahead only
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  Keep left (right if symbol reversed)
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  Turn left (right if symbol reversed)
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  Turn left at junction ahead (right if symbol reversed)
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  No stopping
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  No waiting (parking)
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  No entry
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  One way traffic
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  Police checkpoint or roadblock (stop at sign)
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  School crossing patrol (stop at sign)
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  Route to be used by pedal cycles only (no motor vehicles)
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  Light rail transit (vehicles or trams only)
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  All vehicles prohibited, except permitted vehicles
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  No motor vehicles
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  No motor vehicles excluding motorcycles
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  No motorcycles
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  No right turn (no left turn if symbol reversed)
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  No U-turn
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  No pedestrians
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  Pedestrian priority zone
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  No cycling
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  No use of horn
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  No overtaking
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  No vehicles over width shown
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  No vehicles over length shown
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  No vehicles over height shown
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  No vehicles over gross vehicle weight shown
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  No vehicles over gross axle weight shown
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  No learner drivers
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  Way in for vehicles
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  Way out for vehicles
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  No way out for vehicles
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  No way in for vehicles
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  Except for access if no alternative route
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  End of prohibition/restriction
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  Distance of prohibition/restriction
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  Speed limit in kilometres per hour (km/h)
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  Parking for all cars
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  Parking for buses and coaches only
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  Motorway begins
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  Motorway ends

Temporary/Construction

Temporary road signs (e.g. Red rectangular signs with instructions in white)[4]

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  Wait on red light
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  Road ahead is closed
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  Road closed
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  Worded warning sign (wording may be varied)
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  Temporary route for pedestrians
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  Temporary pedestrian crossing closure
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  Road work ahead
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  Danger ahead
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  Slippery road ahead
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  Loose chippings ahead
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  Manually operated temporary 'Stop' sign
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  Manually operated temporary 'Go' sign

Guide

Guide signs are generally rectangular (sometimes pointed at one end in the case of direction signage).[5]

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  Overhead guide sign on major roads.

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  Interchange sign to Route 6
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  Roundabout sign with three exits.

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  Motorway route number
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  Direction sign with destination
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  Direction signs for temporary routes with destination
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  Accident ahead, follow direction of police
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  Police roadblock ahead
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  Direction to MTR station
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  Direction to vehicular ferry pier
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  Direction to parking place
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  Speed camera ahead
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  Street direction sign
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  Street direction sign with numbers
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  No through road
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  Advance warning of no through road on left
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  Advance warning of no through road on right
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  Countdown markings to indicate distance from exit (100m)
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  Countdown markings to indicate distance from exit (200m)
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  Countdown markings to indicate distance from exit (300m)
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  Vehicles may pass either side to reach same destination
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  Tunnel ahead
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  To cross harbour tunnel

References

1. "Chapter 8: The Language of the Road". Transport Department. Retrieved 2020-12-04.
2. "Traffic Signs Giving Warning". Transport Department. Retrieved 2020-12-04.
3. "Traffic Signs Giving Orders". Transport Department. Retrieved 2020-12-04.
4. "Temporary Signs and Road Markings". Transport Department. Retrieved 2020-12-04.
5. "Traffic Signs Giving Information". Transport Department. Retrieved 2020-12-04.