In a transformative move for regional integration, private vehicles from Guangdong province gained direct access to Hong Kong’s urban centers for the first time on Tuesday. The landmark policy expansion took effect at midnight, with a Guangdong-licensed car passing through the Zhuhai port of the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macao Bridge immediately after the policy implementation.
The historic passage followed streamlined temperature screening and identity verification procedures, with automated systems granting clearance in seconds. This development represents the second phase of a carefully orchestrated initiative that began on November 15th, when approved vehicles were initially permitted to cross the bridge but required parking at the Hong Kong port’s automated facility.
Bridge authorities reported significant preparatory work, having processed over 380 Guangdong-registered vehicles by 8 pm on Monday alone. Customs official Lin Jin detailed substantial infrastructure upgrades, including the establishment of five dedicated clearance lanes in each direction and implementation of a sophisticated data-sharing system that enables automatic verification of vehicle registration information.
The policy delivers tangible benefits to cross-border commuters like Mr. Peng, a Zhuhai restaurateur with Hong Kong business partners. ‘Previously, I had to transfer to buses which was time-consuming,’ Peng remarked after becoming among the first to utilize the new access. ‘Now I can drive directly while completing customs procedures online.’
Simultaneously, northbound traffic has shown remarkable growth, with Hong Kong and Macao vehicles entering the mainland via the bridge increasing by 25.4% year-on-year since January, indicating robust two-way integration within the Greater Bay Area framework.