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Driving to mainland China is about to become much easier under a highly anticipated scheme that will allow more private cars from the city into the rest of Guangdong province. Photo: Bloomberg

9,500 Hong Kong motorists sign up for scheme to drive in mainland China, nearly 7 times quota limit

  • Drivers who win quota slot via ballot will each need to pay up to HK$3,000 for relevant documents, inspection fees and insurance policy
  • Authorities have fixed quota of 200 cars per day in first week and 300 daily in second to ensure smooth start

About 9,500 Hong Kong motorists signed up for an expanded scheme to drive to mainland China via a mega bridge when registration opened on Monday, nearly seven times the quota set for the first week of its launch in July.

Those who win a quota slot via a ballot will each need to pay up to HK$3,000 (US$383) for the relevant documents, inspection fees and insurance policy and meet certain criteria before they can drive across the border, according to transport officials.

Known as “Northbound Travel for Hong Kong Vehicles”, the scheme will allow residents to drive into Guangdong province via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge, with permits that will be valid for up to one year starting from July 1.

About 9,500 applications were received as of 5pm on Monday, when the two-day registration period opened for those hoping to get the cross-border driving licence in the first week of the launch, according to transport authorities.

The Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge. Authorities said some vehicle owners were not able to register for the online ballot in the morning because of a software glitch, but the issue was fixed by 1.30pm. Photo: Winson Wong

Authorities have fixed a quota of 200 cars a day in the first week and 300 daily in the second to ensure a smooth start.

Although a motorists’ group had called for an expanded quota, transport officials on Monday said time would be needed to observe how the scheme was working.

“As proficiency in operations improves, we will consider ramping up the daily processing capacity,” the Transport and Logistic Bureau said.

Results for the first ballot will be announced on Wednesday. Applicants who fail to secure a slot can register again between June 5 and 8 via a designated website, www.hzmbqfs.gov.hk.

What Hongkongers need to know about driving into mainland China under new scheme

The Post attempted to register half an hour after registration opened at 10am on Monday and the system showed more than 2,000 users waiting in the queue and that it would take about 20 minutes to access the registration page.

The Transport Department said some vehicle owners were not able to register for the online ballot in the morning because of a software glitch, but the issue was fixed by 1.30pm.

Drivers successful in the ballot will need to file a formal application for the cross-border driving licence and submit documents in digital format, including the vehicle registration document, Hong Kong identity card and mainland travel permit.

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Construction of Greater Bay Area Hongqimen bridge nears completion after gap closes

Construction of Greater Bay Area Hongqimen bridge nears completion after gap closes

A certificate of roadworthiness issued by the city’s designated car testing centres will also have to be filed if the vehicle is aged six years or more.

To qualify for the scheme, a vehicle also has to be cleared by the China Inspection Company – a testing, certification and appraisal agency approved by the State Council.

The only recognised facility in Hong Kong able to examine cross-border vehicles is located in Yuen Long.

The company has increased its daily inspection quota from a reported 300 to 700 cars and the bureau said it was discussing measures to further enhance arrangements.

Applicants also need to obtain a mainland driving licence in person in Guangdong in advance and meet the insurance requirements in both the city and across the border.

2 roadblocks facing plan to let more Hong Kong drivers cross mega bridge: experts

Meanwhile, the bureau said it had noted that the scanning system of car park gates in Guangdong was not able to read Hong Kong licence plates at present.

But it said it had submitted different samples of Hong Kong car plates to mainland authorities for reference and expressed confidence the problem could be resolved by July 1.

Lawmaker Professor William Wong Kam-fai, an associate dean at Chinese University’s faculty of engineering, said: “Modifying the existing recognition systems in the mainland’s car parks is not complicated.

“It can be done promptly as long as the mainland authorities request the car park operators to do so.”

Hong Kong gears up for safe cross-border driving

The scheme also requires private car owners to buy mainland motor vehicle traffic mandatory liability insurance, which has a coverage limit of 200,000 yuan (US$25,525) and provides third-party protection against injuries and property losses.

Fellow lawmaker Chan Pui-leung, who is also general manager of China Taiping Insurance Hong Kong, said owners should also consider topping up the premium with commercial motor insurance to cover their damage and third-party liability with a maximum coverage of 10 million yuan.

He reminded vehicle owners to call police, take photos and contact the insurer immediately to arrange a local full claim service if they encountered an accident on the mainland.

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