Hong Kong’s transport sector has called for faster cross-border immigration clearance procedures and an expansion of a popular scheme allowing local vehicles to enter Guangdong to include other mainland Chinese cities.
The call was made on Monday after the Northbound Travel for Hong Kong Vehicles scheme, which took effect in 2023, was extended by five years to June 1, 2031.
The scheme allows eligible private car owners in Hong Kong to drive into Guangdong via the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge without a mainland number plate or dual-plate permit. Drivers can stay in the province for up to 30 consecutive days per trip, with a maximum of 180 days per year.
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Ringo Lee Yiu-pui, governor and honorary life president of the Hong Kong, China Automobile Association, said more than 140,000 local private cars had registered for the scheme and he expected the figure to exceed 200,000 in the coming years.
He urged mainland authorities to address traffic congestion at the border facility, which mainly occurs on the final day of holidays.
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He noted that passengers often had to queue for immigration clearance, while vehicles also took time to be processed.
“I hope authorities can consider launching joint clearance for passengers and vehicles to speed up the process … Initially, I think they can start with seven-seater vehicles,” Lee told a radio show.