Following is a question by the Hon Aaron Bok and a written reply by the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan, in the Legislative Council today (April 29):

Question:

     Under the arrangement for the Southbound Travel for Guangdong Vehicles (Entry into Urban Area) (STGV), approved Guangdong private cars may enter the urban areas of Hong Kong. At present, the daily quota is set at 100, and each vehicle may stay in Hong Kong for a maximum of three days. The authorities have stated that they will closely monitor its operation and may increase the quota after accumulating experience in implementation. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) of the following information since the implementation of the STGV arrangement: (i) the number of applications; (ii) the number of applications approved; (iii) the actual number of vehicles entering Hong Kong; and (iv) the average length of stay in Hong Kong among the vehicles;

(2) whether the Government will increase in phases the daily quota for vehicles entering Hong Kong under the STGV arrangement in 2026-‍2027; if so, of the target increase, the timetable, and factors for consideration in adjusting the quota (including the clearance capacity of boundary control points, the road carrying capacity, the supply of parking spaces, the provision of charging stations for electric vehicles, insurance arrangements, and support measures for law enforcement); if not, the reasons for that; and

(3) whether the Government has assessed the benefits brought by the STGV arrangement to Hong Kong in terms of tourism and consumption (such as per capita spending, retail and catering receipts, and hotel occupancy rate); if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?

Reply:

President,

     As a reciprocal arrangement for Northbound Travel for Hong Kong Vehicles, Southbound Travel for Guangdong Vehicles (the Southbound Travel Scheme) is an important measure to promote the integrated development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). The part concerning entry into urban area has been launched since the end of 2025, under which eligible private cars from Guangdong can apply to travel to Hong Kong via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) through innovative and simple procedures. Not only does the scheme facilitate mutual engagement between residents of Guangdong and Hong Kong, but it also achieves a higher level of mutual flow of people and goods and opens up a new model for Mainland residents to visit Hong Kong, which in turn brings opportunities to sectors such as tourism, retail, and catering in Hong Kong, benefitting Hong Kong residents and society as a whole.

     In response to the question raised by the Hon Bok, the reply is as follows.

(1) The Southbound Travel Scheme (entry into urban area) has been open for application from eligible Guangdong private cars since December 9, 2025. The Transport Department (TD) processes applications forwarded from the Mainland authorities and issues an electronic International Circulation Permit (Permit) to successful applicants. Guangdong vehicles that have been issued with a Permit and successfully made a travel booking can enter Hong Kong via the HZMB for a stay up to three days at a time. As of end of March 2026, the TD received a total of approximately 6 300 applications and issued over 5 000 Permits, with the remaining applications being processed; the cumulative number of travel bookings was over 3 500. According to data provided by the Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department, approximately 90 per cent of vehicles stayed in Hong Kong for one to two days in March 2026.

(2) The Southbound Travel Scheme has been operating smoothly and efficiently since its launch, receiving positive feedback from users. The visits by Guangdong vehicles are generally welcomed by Hong Kong citizens. The Government continues to adopt the strategies of ensuring safety, effective diversion, well-equipped supporting facilities, and streamlined application, with a view to enhancing the Southbound Travel Scheme in an orderly manner. In the course of expanding the scheme, we will take the following factors into consideration:

(i) for port clearance, according to observations by the relevant departments at the port, the queuing situation of outbound private cars at the HZMB Hong Kong Port was in good order during peak hours, and there was no traffic jam affecting other port crossings or traffic near the port;

(ii) for road traffic, the TD has continued to provide information on road and driving safety and conducted promotional education through various channels for drivers of the Southbound Travel Scheme. Since the implementation of the scheme, there have been no traffic congestion issues in any district caused by Guangdong vehicles, and the majority of the Mainland drivers have complied with the Hong Kong traffic rules while driving in the territory. The isolated cases of contraventions which involved the Southbound Travel Scheme have been handled or are being followed up; and

(iii) for supporting facilities, the Government has been actively liaising with the operators of major shopping malls and private carparks near tourist attractions and shopping hotspots to encourage gradual enhancement of the parking, payment, and charging facilities. Since the implementation of the scheme, the carparks near tourist hotspots can meet the parking needs of Guangdong vehicles; and the 83 Guobiao-standard (GB-standard) chargers currently available in Hong Kong (supporting over 1 600 GB-standard electric vehicles) are sufficient to support the charging needs of GB-standard electric vehicles during their stay in Hong Kong. As for insurance, six Hong Kong insurance companies currently offer short-term insurance products to car owners entering Hong Kong under the Southbound Travel Scheme (entry into urban area), and the insurance industry will be able to meet the greater demand for insurance policies.

     Building on the above foundation, the Hong Kong SAR Government is continuously reviewing and discussing with the Guangdong authorities on the increase in quotas in an orderly manner, and is planning to progressively expand the scope of the scheme from the current four cities in Guangdong Province (Guangzhou, Zhuhai, Zhongshan, and Jiangmen) to other Guangdong cities after six months of implementation, with a view to taking forward the Southbound Travel Scheme in a prudent and manageable manner. We will announce the relevant arrangements in due course.

(3) The Hong Kong SAR Government has been committed to working with Guangdong to promote various cross-boundary transport measures, fostering connectivity and integrated development within the GBA. With the proactive response of the hotel and retail industries in Hong Kong, offering accommodation, retail spending and parking discounts for travellers under the scheme, we assess that the Southbound Travel Scheme (entry into urban area) provides Mainland tourists with more convenient and flexible travel options, allowing new niches of travellers, including individuals and families with higher spending power, to come to Hong Kong by self-driving for travelling, business, exhibitions or conferences, using professional services, and enjoying leisure and dining experiences. This benefits Hong Kong residents and various industries, opens up new opportunities for co-operation between enterprises in Guangdong and Hong Kong, strengthens bilateral trade and investment, drives Hong Kong's economic growth, and facilitates easier access to global markets for Mainland tourists. The Government will continue to leverage on the measures benefitting Hong Kong, including the Southbound Travel Scheme, to further deepen tourism co-operation with the GBA cities, and to provide a better experience for visitors, injecting a significant impetus into the development of Hong Kong's tourism industry.

Ends/Wednesday, April 29, 2026
Issued at HKT 11:42

NNNN