Over 700 mainland Chinese drivers apply to enter Hong Kong under travel scheme
Authorities say number of applications in line with expectations, stressing scheme not expected to worsen traffic conditions
Hong Kong’s Transport Department said on Thursday that the mainland car owners were among the 1,700 winners of a ballot that allowed them to apply for the scheme and was conducted by Guangdong authorities on November 23.
“The booking quota is now set at 100 per day. With that in mind, we think that the more than 700 applications received so far are in line with our expectations,” a department spokesman said.
The “Southbound Travel for Guangdong Vehicles (Entry into Urban Area)” scheme permits approved private cars from the neighbouring province to enter the city directly via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge. The scheme will allow drivers to travel to the city from midnight on December 23.
Last week, the department said it had received more than 100 applications on the first day that drivers could apply.
But authorities on Thursday were unable to disclose how many people had applied to travel to Hong Kong next Tuesday.