LCQ9: Quota-free Scheme for Hong Kong Private Cars Travelling to Guangdong via Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge
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Question:
It is learnt that during the morning session on the first day of the long Easter holidays in April this year (i.e. April 18), the traffic flow to the Mainland through the "Quota-free Scheme for Hong Kong Private Cars Travelling to Guangdong via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB)" ("Northbound Travel for Hong Kong Vehicles" Scheme) caused serious congestion at HZMB Hong Kong and Zhuhai Ports, with some members of the public travelling from Admiralty taking four hours to arrive at Zhuhai. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) of the number of bookings for departure on April 18 this year made under the "Northbound Travel for Hong Kong Vehicles" Scheme, and the number of vehicles that actually made such trips, together with a breakdown by time slots; and
(2) whether it has rigorously checked if all vehicles travelling to the Mainland under the "Northbound Travel for Hong Kong Vehicles" Scheme have completed their bookings or made their trips according to the time slots they have booked; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
President,
"Northbound Travel for Hong Kong Vehicles" (the Scheme) allows eligible Hong Kong private cars to travel between Hong Kong and Guangdong via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) without the need to obtain regular quotas. It facilitates Hong Kong residents' self-driving to Guangdong for business, visiting families or sightseeing on a short-term basis, thereby further making good use of the HZMB and promoting the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Since the implementation of the Scheme in July 2023, it has been well received by Hong Kong citizens.
Having consulted the Security Bureau, the Transport Department (TD) and relevant Mainland and Macao authorities, our reply to various parts of the Hon Michael Tien's question is as follows:
(1) To ensure smooth traffic of the HZMB and to implement the Scheme in an orderly manner, the governments of Guangdong and Hong Kong agreed that applicants are required to reserve the specified date and time via the booking system for travelling of vehicles via the HZMB to Zhuhai Port.
On April 18, 2025 (i.e. first day of the Easter holiday), the number of travel booking under the Scheme was some 6 900, of which about 5 000 bookings were in the daytime (i.e. 6am to 6pm). Among the some 6 900 bookings, some 6 500 actually travelled on that day; of which over 80 per cent (some 5 700) travelled according to the reserved time slot.
In addition to vehicles under the Scheme, other eligible vehicles are allowed to use the HZMB at the time concerned in the question. Taking private car as an example, eligible vehicles include vehicles travelled under Regular Quota for Guangdong-Hong Kong Private Cars, Regular Quota for Hong Kong-Macao Private Cars and HZMB Macao Port Park-and-Ride Scheme.
(2) As stipulated in the terms and conditions of application for the Scheme, if vehicles are found violating the travel arrangement (including travelling without a reservation or beyond the specified time), relevant authorities of the governments of Guangdong and Hong Kong may refuse to allow the relevant vehicles to travel to Guangdong via the HZMB, and may suspend their eligibility for making another reservation or even revoke the relevant licences issued to them. At present, the TD transmits the travel booking information under the Scheme to the law enforcement departments of the Hong Kong Port on a regular basis with a view to facilitating the daily work at the HZMB Hong Kong Port of the departments. The TD has also been maintaining close liaison with the relevant Mainland authorities and conducting random checks on the vehicle crossing records of the Scheme from time to time to review the compliance situation with the terms and conditions of the Scheme. The governments of Guangdong and Hong Kong will continue to maintain close liaison to adjust and refine various arrangements of the Scheme as required in a timely manner.
Ends/Wednesday, May 28, 2025
Issued at HKT 11:30
Issued at HKT 11:30
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