Editorial | Hong Kong gears up for safe cross-border driving
- Authorities in mainland China and the city are smoothing the way for a scheme to allow more private cars into the rest of Guangdong province
Driving to mainland China is about to become much easier for Hong Kong motorists under a highly anticipated scheme that will allow more private cars from the city into the rest of Guangdong province. But there are major roadblocks authorities must steer clear of before drivers start “going north” less than two months from now.
It is a welcome extension of a privilege once only allowed a select few. Only 16,700 of the city’s more than 570,000 cars have the special number plates currently required.
Soon, licensed drivers will be able to apply if they have Hong Kong identity cards or home return permits. Residents with foreign passports and visas are also eligible.
A flood of applications for the new permits is expected ahead of July 1 when the first drivers will be allowed to cross the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge.
The rule change approved by the State Council in November is meant to boost development of the Greater Bay Area, the central government’s plan to link Hong Kong, Macau and nine southern Chinese cities by 2035. Beijing aims to create a “one-hour living circle” where all destinations in the region are within 60 minutes of each other.