Hong Kong’s transport chief has revealed that the city is strongly considering allowing Guangdong’s private cars with only a local license to travel south via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB).

The move is a bid to further promote economic and social integration within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

According to a report published by local media Wen Wei Po on Friday, Hong Kong Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan said the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government will solicit opinions from the community and maintain close liaison with the Department of Transport of Guangdong Province regarding the program.

READ MORE: Guangdong cars to be allowed to drive south via HZMB

Chan’s predecessor, Lam Sai-hung, mentioned in late 2023 that during the first phase of the program, vehicles from Guangdong will be permitted to park at the HZMB’s Artificial Island of Hong Kong port, and visitors from Guangdong and Macao can enter Hong Kong or proceed to Hong Kong International Airport to board flights after parking their cars at the port. However, their vehicles will be prohibited from entering Hong Kong’s downtown.

The restriction may be relaxed during the second phase, subject to the traffic situation of Hong Kong, Lam said, adding that there was still no time frame for the second phase.

In Friday’s article, Chan said that the program is crucial for advancing GBA inter-connectivity, and would complement the existing “northbound travel” program, which allows eligible private cars from Hong Kong and Macao to enter Guangdong via the HZMB.

Hong Kong’s Transport Department announced on Thursday that the application cap on each working day under Northbound Travel for Hong Kong Vehicles program has been increased from 400 to 500 with immediate effect to cope with increasing demand.

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Chan said she believes that the new arrangement will give eligible residents more chances to visit Guangdong via the bridge. Since the northbound travel scheme for Hong Kong vehicles was implemented on July 1, 2023, usage of HZMB has been on the rise. During July to September in 2024, the bridge has witnessed an average of 12,000 vehicle trips and 70,000 passenger trips per day, Chan noted.

Contact the writer at atlasshao@chinadailyhk.com