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Friday, Jun 09, 2023
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Quota-free plan to give car owners run of Guangdong
A quota-free scheme that allows car owners to drive to Guangdong via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge will likely start next year, with details to be announced by March at the soonest, the Transport and Logistics Bureau said yesterday.
This came as the State Council last month approved a customs guarantee-free policy, which comes under a quota-free scheme that lets eligible car owners traveling to the province via the bridge to do so without the need to be regulated under a quota.
Under the policy, car owners will be exempted from making a declaration, paying customs duties or applying for guarantee arrangements with the mainland's customs authorities.
The SAR yesterday said it has finalized with Guangdong and other mainland authorities fundamental arrangements for the implementation of the scheme to facilitate Hongkongers to drive to Guangdong on business, visit family members or sightsee.
"We are deeply grateful to central and Guangdong governments for their strong support. The State Council has announced the customs guarantee-free policy for Hong Kong car owners under the scheme last month. Together with this announcement by Guangdong, the scheme is now moving toward realization," a spokesman said.
The plan, he said, is for implementation to take place next year after taking into account the epidemic situation, and preparatory work "has been largely completed."
Applicants for the quota-free scheme must be Hong Kong identity and home return permit holders and the registered car owner so they can freely enter the mainland.
Each car cannot have more than two designated drivers who must be licensed to drive on both sides of the border. They must also possess valid entry and exit documents, including a home return permit, or foreign passport with a visa or an endorsement, or a residence permit, a permanent resident card, or other international travel documents with a visa or endorsement.
The scheme, designed for non-commercial cars, must have no more than eight seats, including the driver's, and its length must not exceed six meters.
Owners are required to obtain licenses and permits that include closed road permit for cross-boundary vehicles and vehicle licences.
Cars can stay up to 30 days on each entry and no more than 180 days within a year in aggregate.
Insurance requirements of both sides must also be fulfilled, including getting the compulsory traffic accident liability insurance for motor vehicles in the mainland.
The car must also be checked at China Inspection in Yuen Long but is not required to have a separate inspection in the mainland.
Under the policy, car owners will be exempted from making a declaration, paying customs duties or applying for guarantee arrangements with the mainland's customs authorities.
The SAR yesterday said it has finalized with Guangdong and other mainland authorities fundamental arrangements for the implementation of the scheme to facilitate Hongkongers to drive to Guangdong on business, visit family members or sightsee.
"We are deeply grateful to central and Guangdong governments for their strong support. The State Council has announced the customs guarantee-free policy for Hong Kong car owners under the scheme last month. Together with this announcement by Guangdong, the scheme is now moving toward realization," a spokesman said.
The plan, he said, is for implementation to take place next year after taking into account the epidemic situation, and preparatory work "has been largely completed."
Applicants for the quota-free scheme must be Hong Kong identity and home return permit holders and the registered car owner so they can freely enter the mainland.
Each car cannot have more than two designated drivers who must be licensed to drive on both sides of the border. They must also possess valid entry and exit documents, including a home return permit, or foreign passport with a visa or an endorsement, or a residence permit, a permanent resident card, or other international travel documents with a visa or endorsement.
The scheme, designed for non-commercial cars, must have no more than eight seats, including the driver's, and its length must not exceed six meters.
Owners are required to obtain licenses and permits that include closed road permit for cross-boundary vehicles and vehicle licences.
Cars can stay up to 30 days on each entry and no more than 180 days within a year in aggregate.
Insurance requirements of both sides must also be fulfilled, including getting the compulsory traffic accident liability insurance for motor vehicles in the mainland.
The car must also be checked at China Inspection in Yuen Long but is not required to have a separate inspection in the mainland.
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