"Northbound travel for Hong Kong vehicles" scheme launched

HONG KONG/ZHUHAI, July 1 (Xinhua) -- The "northbound travel for Hong Kong vehicles" scheme was officially launched on Saturday, marking a crucial step towards stronger connectivity and integrated development within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA).

John Lee, chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), said Saturday the launch means that Hong Kong people can drive to the mainland for sightseeing, and visiting families and businesses freely, drawing people from both sides closer together.

The scheme allows eligible Hong Kong private cars to travel between Hong Kong and south China's Guangdong Province via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge without the need to obtain regular quotas.

Lam Sai-hung, secretary for transport and logistics of the HKSAR government, said at a launch ceremony that the scheme is an important measure for the integration of the GBA and has been very popular since it opened for application on June 1, with over 4,000 applications received as of late June.

As of 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, more than 40 Hong Kong vehicles had already traveled northward via the bridge.