Hong Kong’s long-awaited “Southbound Travel for Guangdong Vehicles (Entry into Urban Area)” scheme has moved from concept to reality after Guangdong’s Traffic Management Authority confirmed that 1,700 private-car owners won places in the inaugural computer ballot held on 24 November. A total of 2,388 applicants vied for the limited slots, underscoring pent-up demand among Greater Bay Area motorists to cross the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) and drive directly into the SAR’s urban districts from 23 December.
The pilot programme caps daily entries at 100 vehicles and limits each stay to three consecutive days. To qualify, mainland drivers must pass vehicle inspections, obtain Hong Kong driving licences, arrange third-party risk insurance that meets local requirements and complete an online booking for their travel date. If demand outstrips the daily quota, additional computer balloting will be used, mirroring the northbound scheme that already lets Hong Kong cars enter Guangdong.
![Ballot selects 1,700 Guangdong drivers for first direct entry into downtown Hong Kong]()
For businesses, especially retailers and hotels clustered around West Kowloon, Tsim Sha Tsui and the airport’s SkyCity district, the scheme promises a new stream of high-spending mainland visitors who no longer need to transfer to public transport at the border. Logistics firms also expect time savings when senior staff can self-drive between factories in the Pearl River Delta and Hong Kong headquarters without switching vehicles.
Authorities in both jurisdictions emphasise safety and orderly implementation. Nine inspection stations have been set up in Guangdong, and Hong Kong’s Transport & Logistics Bureau has published detailed road-safety guides in simplified Chinese. Insurance brokers report a spike in inquiries for cross-boundary motor policies, while car-rental platforms are exploring partnerships to offer “GBA packages” that bundle vehicle hire with guaranteed entry slots.
If the initial phase runs smoothly, officials say the quota could be expanded and eligibility widened to include more Guangdong cities within six months. That would deepen connectivity in the Greater Bay Area and further position Hong Kong as a regional hub for shopping, aviation and professional services.
The pilot programme caps daily entries at 100 vehicles and limits each stay to three consecutive days. To qualify, mainland drivers must pass vehicle inspections, obtain Hong Kong driving licences, arrange third-party risk insurance that meets local requirements and complete an online booking for their travel date. If demand outstrips the daily quota, additional computer balloting will be used, mirroring the northbound scheme that already lets Hong Kong cars enter Guangdong.
For businesses, especially retailers and hotels clustered around West Kowloon, Tsim Sha Tsui and the airport’s SkyCity district, the scheme promises a new stream of high-spending mainland visitors who no longer need to transfer to public transport at the border. Logistics firms also expect time savings when senior staff can self-drive between factories in the Pearl River Delta and Hong Kong headquarters without switching vehicles.
Authorities in both jurisdictions emphasise safety and orderly implementation. Nine inspection stations have been set up in Guangdong, and Hong Kong’s Transport & Logistics Bureau has published detailed road-safety guides in simplified Chinese. Insurance brokers report a spike in inquiries for cross-boundary motor policies, while car-rental platforms are exploring partnerships to offer “GBA packages” that bundle vehicle hire with guaranteed entry slots.
If the initial phase runs smoothly, officials say the quota could be expanded and eligibility widened to include more Guangdong cities within six months. That would deepen connectivity in the Greater Bay Area and further position Hong Kong as a regional hub for shopping, aviation and professional services.
