In a move poised to further integrate the Greater Bay Area, Hong Kong is gearing up to welcome Guangdong-registered private vehicles with a streamlined entry process, as revealed by Secretary for Transport and Logistics Lam Sai-hung during a recent legislative session. The announcement signals a significant step towards easing cross-border travel and boosting economic activity within the region.
The new arrangement, dubbed “Guangdong Cars Southbound,” mirrors the existing “Hong Kong Cars Northbound” scheme, allowing eligible Guangdong vehicles to enter Hong Kong via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge on a pre-booking basis, dispensing with the need to secure conventional quotas. This promises to significantly simplify travel for short-term business trips, family visits, and tourism.
The Hong Kong government is diligently preparing for the rollout. This includes detailed assessments of port infrastructure and road capacity to manage traffic flow, especially during peak hours. Moreover, stringent measures are being implemented to mitigate risks, such as requiring vehicles to adhere to Hong Kong’s regulations, ensuring vehicle safety standards, and mandating third-party insurance coverage.
To provide a user-friendly experience, the authorities are developing clear guidelines on application procedures, driving rules, and supporting facilities. The goal is to streamline the process whilst maintaining stringent safety protocols to offer greater convenience to applicants.
Officials anticipate the scheme will operate smoothly, avoiding the need for restricted zones or specific road limitations for Guangdong-registered vehicles.
The “Guangdong Cars Southbound” program mirrors the successful “Hong Kong Cars Northbound” initiative, which has seen over 100,000 Hong Kong-registered private vehicles participating since its launch in July 2023. The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge has also experienced a surge in traffic, with May 2024 seeing approximately 450,000 vehicle crossings, equivalent to 15,000 daily, a remarkable 170% increase compared to pre-“Hong Kong Cars Northbound” levels.
A further boost comes from the planned launch of two automated car parks near Hong Kong’s ports. These carparks, for transfer passengers and visitors respectively, will provide 1,800 parking spots and 200 drop-off zones, streamlining the arrival experience.
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