The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government announced today that, upon an agreement between the governments of Guangdong and Hong Kong, the Northbound Travel for Hong Kong Vehicles scheme will be open for application from eligible Hong Kong private cars starting at 9am on June 1.

Approved Hong Kong private cars will be allowed to travel between Hong Kong and Guangdong via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) starting from 0.00am on July 1.

Chief Executive John Lee expressed his gratitude for the staunch support of the central government and the Guangdong Provincial Government in taking forward and realising the scheme which will inject further impetus for growth in the economic, trade, social and cultural links between Hong Kong and Guangdong.

“The scheme provides a convenient way for Hong Kong citizens to self-drive to Guangdong via the HZMB for business, visiting families or sight-seeing on a short-term basis, thereby embracing the opportunities brought by the HZMB and facilitating further connection among cities in the Greater Bay Area.

“The scheme also marks another important milestone in the economic integration and development of the bay area,” Mr Lee said.

The Guangdong Provincial Government has announced today the scheme’s regulations, details of which can be found on the People’s Government of Guangdong Province official website.

To ensure that the scheme is implemented in an orderly manner, the Guangdong and Hong Kong SAR governments agreed to set a cap on the number of applications to be accepted, which will be allocated through computer balloting, at the initial stage of launching the scheme.

Upon the application commencement, 200 applications will be accepted per working day in the first week, followed by 300 applications to be accepted per working day from the second week onwards.

The application situation will be reviewed and the number of applications to be accepted will be increased progressively.

Applicants will need to first register for computer balloting through the scheme’s designated website. The first round of ballot registration is from May 29 to 30 and the result will be released on May 31.

Successful applicants of balloting can submit applications for the scheme within the designated date and time randomly allocated by computer system starting from 9am on June 1.

For those interested in applying for the scheme, after submitting the application, they should allow time for completing various relevant procedures in accordance with the Mainland departments’ requirements.

To ensure better northbound travel experience for the approved applicants, the Guangdong and Hong Kong SAR governments have also agreed to set a daily cap on the number of northbound vehicles.

Applicants who have obtained the relevant licences for the scheme from the Transport Department and the Mainland departments may book for travelling within a designated period in the subsequent month via the online booking system, starting from the middle of each month.

Subject to the number of booking, there may be a need to allocate designated dates for northbound vehicles through computing balloting.

If the number of applications has not reached its cap, applicants may make the booking via the system on a first come, first served basis.