Road signs in Hong Kong

Road signs near Aberdeen Tunnel of Hong Kong

Road signs in Hong Kong are decided by the Transport Department.^[1] However, road signs in Hong Kong are different than other countries with certain distinctions, although they generally use the same pattern of colours, shapes, and symbols as used in most countries and set out in the Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals.

Design and language

Latest road signs with Transport typeface (2015)

Road signs in Hong Kong closely follow those used in the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, Singapore, and European Countries a remnant of the city's colonial status. Signs usually use the Transport Medium typeface, also used in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland; some signs on recently-completed expressways use Transport Heavy however.

Road signs created in the 2010s often irregularly use Arial Narrow or Helvetica, with or without a modified 'L'. Signs showing street names are usually done in Helvetica as well, but the newest design returns to Transport Medium.

Hong Kong's traffic signs use Chinese and English, usually in an order of English above Traditional Chinese characters, the two official languages of Hong Kong.

Signs giving 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 at line 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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  Dual carriageway ends ahead
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  Round-about 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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  Low-flying aircraft or sudden aircraft noise ahead
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  Cycles ahead
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  Uneven road 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

Signs giving orders

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 (vehicle must 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 cyclists
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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 signs

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

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  Road sign in Hong Kong.- When Red Light Shows, wait here
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  Worded warning sign (wording may be varied)
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  Road ahead closed to vehicles
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  Road closed to vehicles
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  Temporary route for pedestrians
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  Temporary pedestrian crossing closure
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  Road works ahead
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  Other danger ahead
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  Slippery road ahead
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  Manually operated temporary 'Stop' sign
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  Manually operated temporary 'Go' sign

Signs giving information

Signs giving information are generally rectangular (sometimes pointed at one end in the case of direction signage).^[5]

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  Symbols for the three-cross harbour tunnels are marked with E, C and W to indicate the directions to the Eastern Harbour Crossing, Cross-Harbour Tunnel and Western Harbour Crossing respectively. The arrows below the destination mean 'select your destination and get in lane'.

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  On busy road, signs may be placed on gantries above the road. The arrows below the destination mean 'select your destination and get in lane'.
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  Above: Advance direction sign for a roundabout showing the junction layout.

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  Route number
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  The pointed direction sign is sited at the junction and marks the turn.
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  Direction signs for temporary routes have a yellow background with a black border.
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  Traffic accident
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  Prepare to stop if signalled to do so
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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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  Area ahead in which speed cameras are used to enforce traffic regulations
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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 (right if symbol reversed)
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  Advance warning of no through road on right
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  Countdown markings used to indicate the distance to an exit from a road (100m)
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  Countdown markings used to indicate the distance to an exit from a road (200m)
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  Countdown markings used to indicate the distance to an exit from a road (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

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Road signs in Hong Kong.