A government scheme that allows Hong Kong people to drive their cars into Guangdong has been dogged by complicated procedures and long waiting times.
Motorists are increasingly opting to spend up to three times as much to organise trips to the mainland through other avenues rather than apply through the scheme.
The Transport Department introduced the ad hoc quota scheme on March 30, under which local drivers can apply for a seven-day permit to travel within Guangdong in their own cars. The quota was set at 50 a day, or around 1,500 a month. But only 900 people had made online reservations in the 12 weeks to June 17, and only 540 submitted an application.
While drivers snapped up permits at the outset, within weeks the daily reservations were down to between five and 12, and have dwindled to one to two a day, according to the department's booking system.
The Classic Car Club - which organised the first driving trip under the scheme - said it would not apply again, as it smotorcade was held up for six hours at the Western Corridor border crossing.
'Officials kept picking up mistakes in the forms,' said Elton Lau, the club's honorary adviser. 'Also, during the application each individual is required to sign and collect documents at four different places, which is quite inconvenient.'