A landmark policy permitting vehicles registered in Guangdong province to travel to Hong Kong officially took effect at midnight on Saturday, November 15, 2025. The first private car with a Guangdong license plate entered the outbound lane at the Zhuhai highway port of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, marking a significant milestone in cross-border mobility. The ‘Southbound Travel for Guangdong Vehicles’ policy, issued by Guangdong’s provincial department of public security, comprises two key components: a parking plan at Hong Kong border checkpoints and a plan allowing vehicles to enter Hong Kong’s urban areas. Eligible private car owners in Guangdong can now apply to travel to Hong Kong via the mega cross-sea bridge. Approved vehicles can park in automated border-area lots starting November 15 and access Hong Kong’s urban areas from December 23. This initiative mirrors earlier policies implemented in 2023, which allowed single-license plate vehicles from Hong Kong and Macao to travel north into Guangdong. Over the past two years, Gongbei Customs in Zhuhai has overseen more than 7.69 million northbound trips by such vehicles. The new policy is expected to enhance two-way connectivity and foster a one-hour living circle within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. To streamline the process, Customs authorities have established five dedicated inspection lanes at the Zhuhai highway port. ‘Once a vehicle enters the lane, the system automatically verifies and matches registration information, significantly improving clearance efficiency,’ said Wang Peiyang, deputy director of the bridge Customs under Gongbei Customs. This development underscores the region’s commitment to deepening integration and facilitating seamless cross-border travel.