Southbound Travel for Guangdong Vehicles will permit eligible vehicles to enter Hong Kong's urban areas starting Dec. 23. The Transport Department of the Government announced on Dec.10 that it has received over 100 applications from Chinese mainland authorities for eligible Guangdong private vehicles to enter HK's urban areas on the same day. This indicates the quota was filled on the first day of implementation, reflecting enthusiastic response. Selected vehicles must undergo vehicle inspection in the Chinese Mainland and purchase HK third-party liability insurance.
A HK Wen Wei Po reporter visited the Guangzhou vehicle inspection center for Southbound Travel for Guangdong Vehicles on Dec. 10, observing that inspections could be completed in as little as 25 minutes. The first batch of vehicle inspection centers under the policy allowing Southbound Travel for Guangdong Vehicles has expanded from the initial 8 centers to 13 centers, covering vehicles from Guangzhou, Zhuhai, Jiangmen, and Zhongshan. HK's infrastructure is fully prepared, with multiple national-standard chargers deployed across urban areas to meet the charging needs of electric vehicles from Guangdong. The Hong Kong Automobile Association recommends owners bring their original charging adapters for added convenience.
The Transport Department stated that following the first lottery draw conducted by the Guangdong Provincial Government on Nov. 23, a total of 2,388 individuals registered, exceeding the original quota of 1,700. Due to oversubscription, a lottery was necessary. Successful applicants began submitting applications to the Guangdong Provincial Government for entry into HK's urban areas starting the day before yesterday (Dec. 10). On the first day of the Southbound Travel for Guangdong Vehicles scheme's implementation, over 100 cases underwent preliminary review by the mainland authorities, with the information forwarded to the Transport Department for subsequent approval and license/certificate applications.
Multiple vehicle inspection standards aligned with HK
The Transport Department spokesperson explained that after applicants complete procedures including vehicle inspection, verification of "electronic contact details," and insurance purchase, they will receive an electronic permit and approval letter. Applicants must also successfully book a crossing time online before departure.
A HK Wen Wei Po reporter visited the Guangdong Baoyue automobile sales service vehicle inspection center in Panyu, Guangzhou, yesterday (Dec. 10). The center features a reception desk for southbound vehicles from Guangdong, a customer waiting area, dedicated parking spaces, and inspection bays. It also conducts live vehicle drills simulating the inspection process for Guangdong vehicles entering HK's urban areas.
Zhong Zhongxin, workshop manager at the Southbound Travel for Guangdong Vehicles inspection center, stated that vehicle inspections primarily cover appearance and safety performance. First, vehicles must not undergo structural modifications, and their appearance must match the registration certificate photo. Additionally, safety features cannot be compromised—for instance, the windshield's light transmittance must exceed 70%, while suspension condition, brake pad thickness, and headlight transparency must all meet requirements.
Reporters learned that core inspection requirements largely align with Chinese mainland annual inspections, with the most critical difference being window light transmittance: the front windshield must meet 70% transmittance, directly linked to HK standards—an aspect mainland owners often overlook.
Multiple staff members meticulously inspect each of the 15 items, such as confirming the vehicle has no more than 8 seats (including the driver's seat) and that all seat belts are operational. The entire inspection process is completed within half an hour. Zhong stated that the fastest inspections take just 25 minutes, after which the relevant data is uploaded for review. Upon approval, customers may also commission the center to handle services like selecting HK license plates and installing them.
According to the list of vehicle inspection centers published by the Southbound Travel for Guangdong Vehicles information management service system, the number of inspection centers has increased from the initial 8 to the current 13. Among these, Guangzhou has the most centers with 6, while Jiangmen, Zhuhai, and Zhongshan have 4, 2, and 1 centers, respectively. Notably, the service scope of these vehicle inspection centers transcends geographical boundaries, covering vehicles from all four aforementioned cities. Vehicle owners are no longer required to return to their vehicle's registered location for processing.
Representatives from various sectors in HK expressed during interviews with HK Wen Wei Po on Dec. 10 that the city is fully prepared to welcome high-end customers under the Southbound Travel for Guangdong Vehicles Scheme. Ringo Lee, Chairman, The Institute of the Motor Industry Hong Kong, It is anticipated that over half of the vehicles participating in the scheme will be new energy vehicles, and HK has already established seamless connections for electric vehicle charging services. He explained that regarding charging infrastructure, since electric vehicles account for over 70% of newly registered private cars in HK, owners rely on public charging facilities. However, HK and the Chinese Mainland use different charging interface standards for electric vehicles. Lee stated, "The mainland vehicles use the national standard charging interface, while HK uses the international standard." It is understood that the HKSAR will deploy 7 to 10 chargers using the national standard interface on Dec. 23, the first day vehicles from Guangdong will enter HK's urban areas under the scheme.
Lee estimates that the number of charging stations is fundamentally sufficient to meet demand. However, since charging stations using the national standard interface are distributed across different locations, this may cause inconvenience. He recommends that mainland vehicle owners bring their own original charging adapters for greater convenience.
Lee also believes HK's overall parking capacity can meet demand, but cautions against potential localized congestion if large numbers of vehicles converge on popular attractions. He urges the HKSAR to enhance data analysis and predictive capabilities. Additionally, he calls on the HKSAR to preemptively establish an emergency support system, collaborating with the business sector to set up dedicated hotlines for Guangdong vehicle owners facing accidents, breakdowns, or other emergencies.
Guangdong driver praises efficient inspection, plans family trip to HK by month's end
At the Southbound Travel for Guangdong Vehicles inspection center in Panyu, Guangzhou, front desk supervisor Zeng Zehong assisted Guangdong driver Zhang Guangtai with his inspection. Zhang expressed satisfaction with the center's dedicated reception area for southbound vehicles and customer waiting zone. He stated during the interview that the inspection process took less than half an hour and went smoothly. He plans to visit HK by car with his family in late December, which will allow for more convenient travel to places like Victoria Peak.
At the customer waiting area of the Southbound Travel for Guangdong Vehicles inspection center, a HK Wen Wei Po reporter observed a dedicated bulletin board for southbound vehicle services. It provided vehicle owners undergoing inspection with informational booklets produced by the Transport Department.
Regarding the inspection completed within half an hour, Zhang Guangtai stated, "The instructions were very clear, the inspection went smoothly, and the fees were reasonable." He applied for the southern route permit immediately upon its launch, "Primarily to experience different ways of traveling to HK. Previously, I always used public transport for trips to HK. Now that I can drive, it's more convenient, expands my range of activities, and offers a fresh new experience." Regarding the initial arrangement allowing vehicles from Guangdong to stay in HK's urban areas for up to three days, he commented, "Personally, I feel three days is sufficient, though I certainly look forward to the possibility of extending it to seven days in the future."
Zhang Guangtai, who will drive to HK later this month, noted that while he missed the first day of the scheme, he remains optimistic about the future. With the scheme in place, he anticipates not only more frequent trips to HK but also increased opportunities to bring his entire family along, enabling more convenient access to various parts of the city.
HK sectors call for more Chinese mainland standard charging facilities; Hotels and malls to offer parking discounts
With 100 vehicles from Guangdong preparing to enter HK on the first day of the scheme, various sectors in HK interviewed by HK Wen Wei Po on Dec. 10 agreed that the response has been positive. Meanwhile, the retail, hotel, and catering industries will introduce more attractive and convenient measures to welcome self-driving tourists.
Legislative Council member Ben Chan stated that hotels and businesses are already highly anticipating the scheme and hope for more convenient and attractive supporting measures in the future. He emphasized that the HKSAR must continuously monitor the actual implementation of the policy post-launch, particularly focusing on the room for improvement in parking supply and charging infrastructure. Chan called on the HKSAR to promptly strengthen and accelerate the implementation of supporting measures, such as charging facilities.
Chan further urged hotels, shopping malls, and other industries to proactively install charging plugs compliant with national standards. Additionally, charging facilities in port areas should be optimized, and the number of charging stations across HK should be gradually increased to ensure that battery range concerns do not deter Guangdong vehicle owners from visiting HK.
Legislative Council member for the Functional Constituency - Wholesale and Retail, Shiu Ka-fai, noted that the initial daily quota of 100 vehicles was fully booked on the first day of implementation. He further predicted that participating vehicle owners would predominantly belong to high-spending demographics. Should they enjoy a positive travel experience during their stay in HK, they could become "grassroots ambassadors" for the city, significantly aiding in further cross-boundary exchanges and the development of HK's tourism industry.
Shiu suggested that major shopping malls and hotels in HK offer complimentary parking services or related discounts to attract more Guangdong vehicle owners. This approach would also lay a solid foundation for gradually relaxing the policy and expanding the quota in the future.
(Source: Wen Wei Po | English Editor: Vesper, Kiki)
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