Plan to allow more private cars to drive from Hong Kong to mainland China along mega bridge faces 2 big hurdles, industry players say

Driving private cars over Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge has been privilege reserved for only rich or politicians, but government has revealed quota-free scheme is coming

But transport experts say officials should first increase number of companies that can carry out required car checks and make local driving permits recognised over border

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The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge. Photo: Dickson Lee

Published: 7:53pm, 1 Apr 2023

Hong Kong’s transport authorities have been urged to resolve two hurdles facing a long-awaited quota-free scheme for private vehicles to travel over the mega bridge to Guangdong before the arrangement is rolled out this year.

The Transport and Logistics Bureau revealed on Friday that Hong Kong and Guangdong provincial authorities had agreed on the timetable for the launch.

“We are now awaiting the final approval in accordance with the procedures so we can roll this out as soon as practicable,” it said. “We will announce the scheme’s details in due course such as the application procedures and the insurance arrangement.”

A screen shows a map of the Greater Bay Area linking Hong Kong, Macau with nine other cities. Photo: AP

Hong Kong drivers are keen to travel north and explore Guangdong after the State Council approved the proposal in November to allow the city’s private cars to enter the province via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge.

The move is expected to boost the development of the Greater Bay Area, Beijing’s plan to link Hong Kong, Macau and nine Guangdong cities into an economic powerhouse by 2035 to rival Silicon Valley in the United States.

Transport industry leaders said the Hong Kong government was still ironing out the scheme’s details with Guangdong, and a temporary quota would be used in the initial stage to keep the number of applications at a manageable level and avoid congestion along the bridge.

They also urged the government to come up with a solution to the capacity challenges to ensure smooth implementation of the scheme.