LCQ1: Measures to promote use of Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge
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Question:
In November last year, the State Council introduced the Quota-free Scheme for Hong Kong Private Cars Travelling to Guangdong via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (the Scheme) under which eligible Hong Kong private cars would be allowed to travel to and from Guangdong Province via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) without any need to obtain regular quotas, so as to facilitate Hong Kong people to travel to and from Guangdong Province by self-drive mode for business, visiting relatives or travelling on a short-term basis. The Hong Kong SAR Government also announced at the end of last year that it would work out the specific implementation details of the Scheme jointly with the Guangdong Provincial Government. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) to further facilitate business dealings within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, whether the Hong Kong SAR Government will discuss with the Guangdong Provincial Government the relaxation of the restrictions on the eligibility of vehicles and applicants under the Scheme, so as to benefit more people who have close business dealings with Guangdong Province, vehicles held in the names of companies, as well as people eligible to travel to and from the Mainland who possess the status of Hong Kong residents but are not holding the Mainland Travel Permits for Hong Kong and Macao Residents (commonly known as "Home Return Permits") for the time being (e.g. staff sent out by China-capital enterprises);
(2) as it is learnt that there is still much room for growth in the traffic flow of HZMB, whether the Hong Kong SAR Government will coordinate with the Guangdong Provincial Government the introduction of a monthly pass for HZMB to enable users to use HZMB at concessionary fares, with a view to enhancing the traffic efficiency of HZMB and encouraging more people to use HZMB to travel to and from Guangdong Province; and
(3) to further facilitate Hong Kong private cars to travel to and from Guangdong Province, whether the Government will actively promote the introduction of an innovative insurance product by the insurance sector with protection covering traffic accidents which occur in both Hong Kong and Guangdong Province?
Reply:
President,
Since its commissioning in October 2018, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) has brought enormous opportunities for the connectivity within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and its overall development. The governments of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao have been working closely to take forward various new cross-boundary transport measures having regard to the capacity of relevant boundary control points and the respective connecting roads, with a view to increasing the number of vehicles using HZMB in a gradual and orderly manner. Before the pandemic, about 80 000 cross-boundary vehicles from Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao (including cross-boundary private cars and hire cars, port shuttle buses, cross-boundary coaches, cross-boundary goods vehicles, etc.) with relevant quotas and licences/permits were eligible to use HZMB.
As announced earlier, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government is pressing ahead with the Quota-free Scheme for Hong Kong Private Cars Travelling to Guangdong via HZMB (the Scheme). The Guangdong Provincial Government and the HKSAR Government announced on December 20, 2022 that both governments were working on the detailed implementation arrangements of the Scheme in accordance with the approval of the State Council, and would strive to announce detailed arrangements in the first quarter of 2023 and implement the Scheme within this year, subject to factors such as the anti-epidemic requirements of Guangdong and Hong Kong. The implementation of the Scheme will be a policy breakthrough, as currently a Guangdong-Hong Kong cross-boundary private car regular quota is generally required before a Hong Kong private car can travel between Hong Kong and Guangdong. The eligibility criteria for a regular quota are laid down by the Guangdong Provincial Government, such as accumulating a certain amount of tax payment or donations. Under the Scheme, a Hong Kong resident will be allowed to drive a private car owned by him/her between Hong Kong and Guangdong via HZMB without a quota. This will facilitate self-driving to Guangdong for business, visiting families or sight-seeing on a short-term basis by Hong Kong residents. Through further seizing the opportunities brought about by HZMB, the promotion of exchanges between Guangdong and Hong Kong can be enhanced.
In consultation with the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau (FSTB), my reply to the three parts of the question raised by the Hon Yim Kong is as follows:
(1) The HKSAR Government announced on December 20, 2022 the basic arrangements for the Scheme as finalised by the Guangdong Provincial Government and the relevant Mainland authorities. An applicant must be a Hong Kong resident who possesses a valid Hong Kong Identity Card and a valid Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents (i.e. Home Return Permit), and he/she must also be the registered owner of the private car concerned. As for the eligibility of drivers, they must possess valid entry and exit documents including a valid Home Return Permit, a foreign passport with a valid visa/endorsement (or a residence permit or a permanent resident card) or other international travel documents with a valid visa/endorsement (or a residence permit or a permanent resident card). As for those who do not possess the documents mentioned above and are not eligible as an applicant or a driver, they may travel between Hong Kong and Guangdong as a passenger on an eligible Hong Kong private car under the Scheme if they possess other valid entry and exit documents.
It is also a consensus between the governments of Guangdong and Hong Kong that vehicles under the Scheme must be private cars registered in the name of an individual, which aligns with the relevant requirements under the Quota-free Scheme for Macao Private Cars Travelling to Guangdong via HZMB. After the Scheme has been implemented for a certain period of time, the governments of Guangdong and Hong Kong will evaluate the application criteria as and when appropriate as well as taking into account the relevant national policies, with a view to continuing to refine the Scheme.
We will continue to discuss with the Guangdong Provincial Government and the relevant Mainland authorities and strive for streamlining the application procedures and lowering the handling fees of the Scheme as far as possible for the benefits and convenience of the public. For example, the State Council announced the customs guarantee-free policy for eligible Hong Kong private cars under the Scheme in November 2022. The policy will allow Hong Kong private cars participating in the Scheme to be exempted from paying customs duties or applying for guarantee arrangements with Mainland Customs, which will make the Scheme much more attractive.
(2) For the suggestion of introducing a monthly pass for using HZMB, while there are currently no such monthly passes being provided to HZMB users, in light of the imminent implementation of the Scheme, we have relayed to the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Authority, which is responsible for determining the toll levels of HZMB, the suggestion on monthly payment of tolls by cross-boundary vehicles using HZMB for its reference and consideration. For Gold Buses which currently provide port shuttle bus services via HZMB, while no monthly pass schemes are offered to passengers, the Transport Department will actively liaise with the operator to explore the feasibility of introducing more concessionary arrangements to attract patronage and cater for the transport needs of different passengers. For example, half-fare concessions are being offered to children, people with disabilities and the elderly who travel by Gold Buses.
(3) According to the FSTB, Hong Kong private cars travelling to and from Guangdong via HZMB, including those that will participate in the Scheme in the future, must comply with the statutory motor insurance requirements on third-party risks as required by the authorities of Hong Kong and the Mainland. At present, owners of such Hong Kong private cars may take out statutory motor insurance policies of both Hong Kong and the Mainland through Hong Kong insurers providing relevant services under a one-stop arrangement. To further facilitate Hong Kong private cars' travelling to and from Guangdong, we are preparing to implement the "unilateral recognition" policy for cross-boundary motor insurance so that the coverage of third-party insurance policies issued by Hong Kong insurers for Hong Kong private cars that enter Guangdong via HZMB may be extended to cover third-party liability on the Mainland, sparing car owners from having to purchase separate policies for Hong Kong and the Mainland. Currently, more than 10 Hong Kong insurers are ready to offer "unilateral recognition" motor insurance products once the Scheme is launched by the governments of Guangdong and Hong Kong.
Thank you, President.
Ends/Wednesday, January 11, 2023
Issued at HKT 12:55
Issued at HKT 12:55
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