Hong Kong motorists’ group calls for more vehicles to be allowed to enter mainland China daily under new scheme
- Mainland China boosts capacity to inspect vehicles of Hong Kong drivers wanting to travel to Guangdong
- Call come a day before registration opens for computer balloting for the cross-border driving scheme
A Hong Kong motorists’ group has urged the government to allow more local cars to enter Guangdong via a mega cross-border bridge now that mainland China has boosted its capacity to perform the required inspections.
The Hong Kong Automobile Association made the appeal on Sunday, a day before registration opens for computer balloting for the cross-border driving scheme. It also hoped authorities on both sides of the border could keep the application process as simple as possible, warning complicated procedures could scupper the scheme.
In a post on the official Facebook page of his bureau on Sunday, Secretary for Transport and Logistics Lam Sai-hung said that after a discussion between the Hong Kong government and mainland authorities, China Inspection Company had increased its daily quota of checks to 700 cars. The company reportedly inspected some 300 cars a day at present.
“The company has also extended its service hours. Previously it was 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. Now it is 8am to 8pm, and it will open on Saturday and Sunday.”
But Lam noted authorities would only process 200 applications a day in the first week and 300 daily in the second to facilitate a smooth start.
Lam added the city government would keep close contact with mainland authorities to work out more measures to facilitate the cross-border driving scheme.
The Northbound Travel for Hong Kong Vehicles scheme allows eligible private cars to travel between the city and Guangdong via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge.
