Over 5,000 Guangdong motorists approved for Hong Kong travel scheme

Hong Kong's Transport Department reports that since the launch of the southbound travel scheme for Guangdong vehicles on December 23 last year, more than 5,000 applications have been approved and over 3,500 travel bookings recorded by the end of March, with 90% of travellers staying one or two days. The scheme allows up to 100 vehicles daily from Guangzhou, Zhuhai, Zhongshan and Jiangmen to enter Hong Kong's urban areas via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge for a maximum of 72 hours.

Hong Kong's Transport Department said on Sunday that the urban access portion of the Southbound Travel for Guangdong Vehicles arrangement is operating smoothly and has grown increasingly popular since its launch near the end of 2025.

"Since its launch on December 23 last year and up until the end of March this year, the department has approved more than 5,000 applications and recorded over 3,500 travel bookings, with around 90 per cent of travellers staying in Hong Kong for one to two days," the department said.

The scheme currently grants access to up to 100 vehicles a day from Guangzhou, Zhuhai, Zhongshan and Jiangmen. Approved vehicles can enter Hong Kong during booked time slots via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge and stay in the city for a maximum of 72 hours.

The arrangement aims to integrate mainland Chinese private cars into the city's road network to boost tourism, with local authorities highlighting the economic potential of the influx.

Related Articles

Hong Kong lawmakers in session voicing concerns over Huanggang checkpoint parking shortage, with Secretary Tang presenting solutions.
Image generated by AI

Hong Kong lawmakers concerned over Huanggang checkpoint parking shortage

Reported by AI Image generated by AI

Hong Kong lawmakers on Friday voiced concerns about the lack of parking at the upgraded Huanggang border crossing, deeming shuttle bus services inconvenient. Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung said authorities plan to build a nearby car park with shuttle buses to the checkpoint. Lawmakers called for an on-site public car park similar to the one at Heung Yuen Wai crossing.

Traffic at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge hit peak levels in the first two days of the holiday, with passenger flows exceeding 192,000 and vehicles surpassing 30,000, leading to checkpoint queues sometimes over an hour. Ringo Lee Yiu-pui, honorary life president of the Hong Kong, China Automobile Association, said on Monday it marked one of the busiest periods in recent years.

Reported by AI

Rising airline fuel surcharges and the Middle East conflict are deterring Hong Kong residents from long-haul travel, favoring safe and affordable high-speed rail trips to mainland China. Traveler Mr Lau and his wife took a train to neighboring Guangzhou for a three-day trip costing about HK$500. Hong Kong Tourism Association executive director Timothy Chui Ting-pong said the changes have encouraged visits to cross-border destinations.

The annual Spring Festival travel rush, known as chunyun, began on Monday as millions of Chinese embarked on journeys home. An estimated 188 million cross-regional trips were recorded on the first day, up 13 percent year-on-year. Officials forecast a record 9.5 billion trips over the 40-day period ending March 13.

Reported by AI

Parts of Hong Kong Island were heavily congested on Monday as the final day of the Lunar New Year flower market at Victoria Park drew shopping crowds, leaving commuters stranded and bringing public transport to a standstill for hours. Buses and trams were stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic in Causeway Bay at 7pm, with some drivers blaring their horns as vehicles cut in front of them. A South China Morning Post reporter spent 30 minutes on a tram travelling just one stop before disembarking at Victoria Park.

Heavy traffic built up on major roads and expressways across South Korea on Tuesday, the fourth day of the Lunar New Year holiday, as people traveled to hometowns. The Korea Expressway Corp. estimated travel times from Seoul to Busan at five hours as of 8 a.m. The holiday period began over the weekend and runs through Wednesday.

Reported by AI

A crash involving two buses, a truck, and a car on Hong Kong's Yuen Long Highway injured 21 people with minor injuries on Friday evening. Police were alerted at 6:35pm, leading to closures of several lanes. Bus operator KMB has suspended the involved drivers and is investigating the cause.

 

 

 

This website uses cookies

We use cookies for analytics to improve our site. Read our privacy policy for more information.
Decline