GUANGZHOU, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- Police in south China's Guangdong Province announced 18 new policies Tuesday to facilitate the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

Starting from the first quarter of 2018, visitors from 53 countries shall enjoy 144-hour visa-free transit in Guangdong, said Zheng Dong, deputy director of the province's Public Security Department.

The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay area includes nine cities in Guangdong Province.

Non-commercial vehicles with cross-boundary plates shall access the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) without the need of a permit, according to Zheng.

He also said the Guangdong and Hong Kong governments have decided to increase the HZMB quota for Hong Kong cross-boundary private cars by 7,000.

It brings the quota for Hong Kong cross-boundary private cars to 10,000 before the commissioning of the HZMB.

Spanning 55 kilometers long, the HZMB is one of the longest of its kind in the world. Its major works are expected to be completed by the end of the year.

Other policies are concerned with household registration, customs clearance of ships, "green channel" for transport of fresh products.