Since the implementation of the "Northbound Travel for Hong Kong Vehicles" scheme, as of June 30, the number of vehicles making the northbound journey has exceeded 950,000, with over 82,000 drivers having completed registration under the scheme. Additionally, more than 67,000 vehicles have been registered for northbound travel.
This policy has significantly enhanced cross-border travel between Hong Kong and Guangdong Province, and contributed to increased cultural and economic exchanges within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA).
(Photo provided to GDToday)
Introduced by the governments of Guangdong and Hong Kong in May 2023, the policy allows eligible Hong Kong private vehicles to enter Guangdong via the Zhuhai Port of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) starting from July 1, 2023.
It has successfully addressed longstanding challenges faced by Hong Kong vehicles entering the Chinese mainland, facilitating closer and more convenient transportation services between Guangdong and Hong Kong.
The policy's positive impact extends beyond mere convenience, which encompasses mutual recognition agreements for electronic license plates, customs exemptions, insurance equivalencies, and online cross-border application procedures. These measures have further promoted seamless connectivity in the GBA for human, material, and capital flows, thus facilitating regulatory alignment and institutional coordination between Guangdong and Hong Kong.
Over the past year, more than 60,000 Hong Kong vehicle owners have benefited from the scheme. Data from the Statistics Bureau of Zhuhai reveal a remarkable 350% year-on-year increase in the first quarter of 2024 in the reception of foreign and Hong Kong tourists.
The demand for northbound travel has been robust, prompting continuous optimization of policy details by the governments of Guangdong and Hong Kong. Measures introduced include shortened booking and cancellation time effective from February 6, 2024, streamlined vehicle inspection arrangements from March 1, simplified vehicle renewal processes from May 14, and increased daily processing capacity for applications since June.
With the fifth anniversary of the release of the Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, the region has become one of China's most open and economically vibrant areas, with a total economic output surpassing 14 trillion RMB.
Supported by favorable policies including "Northbound Travel for Hong Kong Vehicles," "Northbound Travel for Macao Vehicles," and "Fly-Via-Zhuhai-HK," the HZMB is poised to unlock new potentials for the dynamic development of the GBA.
Author | Hannah
Editor | Nan, Will, James
