Hong Kong’s Transport Department has confirmed that all operational, safety and digital-payment systems for the long-awaited ‘Southbound Travel for Guangdong Vehicles’ (STGV) scheme are ready, clearing the way for private cars registered in Guangdong to drive into Hong Kong’s urban areas from 00:00 on 23 December.
Under the pilot, up to 1 700 Guangdong motorists who won an online ballot will be allowed to enter via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) and remain in the city for a maximum of three days per trip. Applicants must pass a 15-point vehicle inspection at a designated mainland centre, fit an HKSAR licence plate beginning with the prefix “FT”, purchase local insurance, and activate an “HKeToll” account to pay tunnel fees automatically. Electronic permits and approval letters are issued once Hong Kong and Guangdong authorities have cross-checked the driver’s identity, vehicle data and insurance.
Road-safety briefings, videos and a new ‘STGV’ page inside the “HKeMobility” app explain Hong Kong’s left-hand-drive rules, traffic signs and parking locations that support mainland e-payment tools and fast-chargers for electric vehicles. A dedicated charging and information hub has been built on Lantau Island so that EV drivers can top up immediately after crossing the HZMB.
![Hong Kong finalises ‘Southbound Travel for Guangdong Vehicles’ rules ahead of 23 December launch]()
Whether you’re one of the 1 700 ballot winners or a travel manager coordinating company vehicles, VisaHQ’s Hong Kong portal (https://www.visahq.com/hong-kong/) can simplify the red tape, from securing the correct entry permits to arranging the supporting insurance and documentation required for cross-border motoring. The service also offers guidance for onward China visas, ensuring that both individual motorists and corporate fleets stay compliant without last-minute scrambles.
Officials argue that the policy will diversify Hong Kong’s visitor mix, sending high-spending self-drive tourists into neighbourhoods beyond the usual shopping districts and spreading economic benefit “to all sectors”. Analysts note, however, that the three-day limit and small quota could constrain initial impact; business groups are already lobbying for longer stays and a future quota rise once traffic data are analysed.
For mobility managers, the scheme opens a new door for Guangdong-based executives who prefer to drive themselves to client meetings or short assignments in Hong Kong. Companies should check staff insurance coverage, encourage pre-trip familiarisation with local road rules, and block early-morning meeting times on 23-24 December, when the first wave of vehicles is expected to arrive at the airport-adjacent HZMB port.
Under the pilot, up to 1 700 Guangdong motorists who won an online ballot will be allowed to enter via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) and remain in the city for a maximum of three days per trip. Applicants must pass a 15-point vehicle inspection at a designated mainland centre, fit an HKSAR licence plate beginning with the prefix “FT”, purchase local insurance, and activate an “HKeToll” account to pay tunnel fees automatically. Electronic permits and approval letters are issued once Hong Kong and Guangdong authorities have cross-checked the driver’s identity, vehicle data and insurance.
Road-safety briefings, videos and a new ‘STGV’ page inside the “HKeMobility” app explain Hong Kong’s left-hand-drive rules, traffic signs and parking locations that support mainland e-payment tools and fast-chargers for electric vehicles. A dedicated charging and information hub has been built on Lantau Island so that EV drivers can top up immediately after crossing the HZMB.
Whether you’re one of the 1 700 ballot winners or a travel manager coordinating company vehicles, VisaHQ’s Hong Kong portal (https://www.visahq.com/hong-kong/) can simplify the red tape, from securing the correct entry permits to arranging the supporting insurance and documentation required for cross-border motoring. The service also offers guidance for onward China visas, ensuring that both individual motorists and corporate fleets stay compliant without last-minute scrambles.
Officials argue that the policy will diversify Hong Kong’s visitor mix, sending high-spending self-drive tourists into neighbourhoods beyond the usual shopping districts and spreading economic benefit “to all sectors”. Analysts note, however, that the three-day limit and small quota could constrain initial impact; business groups are already lobbying for longer stays and a future quota rise once traffic data are analysed.
For mobility managers, the scheme opens a new door for Guangdong-based executives who prefer to drive themselves to client meetings or short assignments in Hong Kong. Companies should check staff insurance coverage, encourage pre-trip familiarisation with local road rules, and block early-morning meeting times on 23-24 December, when the first wave of vehicles is expected to arrive at the airport-adjacent HZMB port.
