Hong Kong, 5 May (ZXS) -- On 1 May, the Hong Kong SAR Government announced the implementation arrangements for "Hong Kong vehicles going north." According to the arrangement, eligible Hong Kong private cars will be accepted to apply for "Hong Kong Car Northbound" from 1 a.m. on 6 June this year, and approved Hong Kong private cars will be allowed to travel between Hong Kong and Guangdong Province through the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Port from 1:9 on 7 July.
According to the arrangement, a maximum number of applications will be set at the initial stage of the Scheme and allocated by computer lottery. Applications will be accepted 200 applications per working day for the first week and 300 applications per working day from the second week onwards, and the number of applications will be gradually increased subject to application status. Applicants are required to register for the lottery through the designated website.
In addition, "Hong Kong Car Northbound" is designed for non-operating private cars, so the registered owner of the vehicle must hold it in his or her own name, and the applicant must be a Hong Kong resident holding a valid Hong Kong Identity Card and "Home Return Permit" and have obtained a driving licence from Hong Kong and the Mainland. Applicants for vehicle seats (including driver's seats) must not exceed 8 seats, be no more than 6 metres long and hold a valid Hong Kong Vehicle Licence.
Commenting on the "Hong Kong Car to the North" measure, the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Mr John Lee said: "The 'Hong Kong Car Northbound' facilitates Hong Kong residents to travel to Guangdong Province via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge for short-term business, family visit or tourism, which is another important milestone in embracing opportunities, promoting further connectivity in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and promoting economic integration in the region." ”
Hong Kong Automobile Association President Lee Yiu-pei estimated that more than 40,<> vehicles in Hong Kong are eligible for "Hong Kong car northbound", and said that the car will cooperate with relevant parties in Guangdong Province to help Hong Kong drivers "go north".
Mr. Tsui, a Hong Kong car owner, said in an interview with China News Agency that the measures will help Hong Kong citizens integrate into the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and provide convenience for Hong Kong people's lives. In recent years, people-to-people exchanges and economic and trade co-operation between Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao have become closer and more frequent, and more and more Hong Kong residents have chosen to live, work or travel to the mainland, and the demand for transportation to and from the Mainland has further increased. However, Mr Tsui also said that due to the differences between Hong Kong and the mainland in terms of road environment and driving habits, he also hoped that the governments of the two places would introduce relevant measures to let Hong Kong drivers know more about driving in the mainland. (End)