Guangdong Public Security Department to start accepting new quota applications for Hong Kong private cars using Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge to Guangdong
***************************************************************

     The Transport Department (TD) announced today (August 25) that the Guangdong Public Security Department (GDPSD) will start accepting new quota applications for Hong Kong cross-boundary private cars using the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB).

     With a view to maximising the social, economic and traffic benefits of the HZMB, after deliberations by the Hong Kong and Guangdong governments, the application criteria for Hong Kong cross-boundary private cars using the HZMB will be relaxed. Details are as follows:

(a) Enterprises with an accumulative tax amount of at least RMB 0.1 million in Guangdong in the past three years (including the application year), irrespective of the investment amount;

(b) Recognised national high-tech enterprises;

(c) Hong Kong residents who donated charitable work for an accumulative amount of RMB5 million in Guangdong; or

(d) Hong Kong residents who are members of the People's Congress and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference at national level; provincial, prefecture and country level of Guangdong province.

     Individuals who have applied under quotas for other crossings may still submit their application, given that they meet the above criteria.

     The two governments plan to issue a quota of 3 000 for Hong Kong private cars before the commissioning of the HZMB. The validity of the quota period will be five years. Applicants may apply for renewal upon expiry, subject to the quota criteria and conditions at that time. For details, please visit GDPSD's website at www.gdgajj.gov.cn .

     "As compared with other crossings, the quota application criteria for cross-boundary private cars using the HZMB have been relaxed. This will be beneficial to small-scale and high-tech Hong Kong enterprises investing in Guangdong, so that more Hong Kong private cars can use the HZMB to go to Guangdong," a spokesman for the TD said.

     At present, the application criteria for Hong Kong cross-boundary private cars using other crossings are:

(a) Hong Kong Enterprises with an investment of at least US$1 million (HKD or RMB8 million) in the non-mountainous areas in Guangdong and a tax amount of at least RMB0.3 million in the Mainland;

(b) Hong Kong Enterprises with an investment of at least US$0.4 million (HKD or RMB3.2 million) in the mountainous areas in Guangdong and a tax amount of at least RMB0.15 million in the Mainland;

(c) Hong Kong residents who are members of the People's Congress and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference at national level, provincial level of Guangdong province and some prefectures in Guangdong province; or

(d) Hong Kong residents who donated in charitable work for an accumulative amount of RMB 10 million in Guangdong.

     The GDPSD will start accepting new applications for Hong Kong private cars using the HZMB from September 1. Eligible persons should submit their applications to the GDPSD. Applicants may also submit their applications to the Head Office, Kowloon Bay Entry Permit Service Centre and Shatin Entry Permit Service Centre of China Travel Service (Hong Kong) Limited.

     Upon receipt of the Approval Notice for using the HZMB issued by the GDPSD, applicants need to apply for the closed road permit (CRP) from the Cross Boundary Unit of this Department. Applicants have to complete all the formalities in both Hong Kong and the Mainland before driving across the border via the HZMB after commissioning. For details, please call the TD's hotline at 2804 2600 or visit the department's website at
www.td.gov.hk/en/public_services/licences_and_permits/closed_road_permit_for_cross_boundary_vehicles/how_to_apply_for_closed_road_permit_for_boundary/index.html .

     Also, the GDPSD will accept the quota applications from Mainland cross-boundary private cars.  State-owned, collectively owned and private enterprises with an accumulative tax amount of at least RMB 1 million in the past three years (including the application year) may submit applications.  The two governments plan to issue 300 quotas for Mainland cross-boundary private cars before the commissioning of the HZMB.

Ends/Friday, August 25, 2017
Issued at HKT 12:08

NNNN