Applications for much-awaited scheme for Hongkongers to drive to mainland China in private cars on mega bridge to open from June 1
- Registrations to open a month before launch of scheme that will allow residents to explore Guangdong province in comfort of own vehicles
- Daily cap set at 200 in first week of operations, rising to 300 by second and may be expanded further upon review
The Transport and Logistics Bureau on Monday released details after Hong Kong and Guangdong provincial authorities agreed to set a maximum of 200 applications per working day in the first week of operations.
Application quotas will increase to 300 from the second week and are set to be gradually expanded upon review.
The move is expected to boost the development of the Greater Bay Area, Beijing’s plan to link Hong Kong, Macau and nine southern Chinese cities into an economic powerhouse by 2035 to rival Silicon Valley in the United States.
Currently only 16,700 out of more than 570,000 private cars in the city are allowed to cross the border. Such vehicles carry the Chinese character Yue, the official abbreviation for Guangdong province, on their number plates.
Under the scheme, motorists with local identity cards, home return permits issued by mainland authorities and Hong Kong or mainland driving licences will be allowed to drive across the border using the mega bridge and stay up to 30 consecutive days each time, subject to an annual maximum of 180 days.
