Hong Kong strives to implement ‘Southbound Travel Scheme’ for Guangdong vehicles this November

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Initially, the scheme will allow a small quota of 100 daily bookings for Guangdong vehicles to enter Hong Kong’s urban area.

Hong Kong’s Transport and Logistics Bureau has announced plan to launch the Southbound Travel Scheme this November, allowing eligible Guangdong vehicles to enter the Hong Kong territory through the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB).

Mable Chan, Secretary for Transport and Logistics, stated at a media briefing that, with the agreement of Guangdong and the support of the Central Government, Guangdong and Hong Kong have reached a consensus to expedite the implementation of the policy of the Southbound Travel Scheme.

Here is the policy direction of the scheme:

The automated carparks of the Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) at the HZMB Hong Kong Port are part of the Southbound Travel Scheme, providing "park and fly" arrangements before the Hong Kong control point.

The AAHK's "Park & Fly" carpark has 1,800 spaces, and the AAHK has developed the booking system. This arrangement aims to further attract Mainland residents to transfer their flights via the Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA).

To enter Hong Kong’s urban area via the HZMB, Guangdong vehicles will need to undergo vehicle inspection and complete other procedures. Initially, the scheme will allow a small quota of 100 daily bookings to test the system and procedural arrangements.

The bureau will consider the traffic at the port, conditions on nearby roads, user adaptation, social responses, and other factors, and take the scheme forward in a prudent and manageable manner before deciding to increase the quota.

Meanwhile, the AAHK is taking forward the "Park & Visit" carpark at the HZMB port, which will enable Mainland residents to "park and ride" – park their vehicles, then use public transport – to visit facilities on the Airport Island, and then different places in Hong Kong.

From now until November, the governments of Guangdong and Hong Kong will continue to formulate implementation arrangements for the Southbound Travel Scheme, including management arrangements, system interface, construction works, facilitation measures, port clearance, monitoring measures, insurance arrangements, publicity work, and full-scale drills.

Further details will be announced as soon as possible within this year.

Chan emphasised that the Southbound Travel Scheme will further promote the integration of the Greater Bay Area and benefit Hong Kong's economic development.

Photo / hzmb.gov.hk