Hong Kong shouldn't let lack of space hold up Guangdong driver scheme: minister
Hong Kong should not be held back by a lack of land or parking spaces in pushing ahead with a plan to let Guangdong province residents
drive to the city , the transport minister has said, as she reiterated that the scheme would be rolled out with strict controls.
Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan told lawmakers on Wednesday that the government was working with mainland Chinese authorities to implement the scheme and had ruled out the need to establish separate restricted zones or roads for the vehicles.
'Preparations also include evaluating traffic and road capacity at border crossings to manage vehicle flow and avoid peak congestion, as well as strengthening immigration procedures, transport infrastructure and contingency plans,' she said.
The Southbound Travel for Guangdong Vehicles scheme has been the subject of discussion for years and was originally expected to start at the end of 2024 or early this year.
Chan said authorities would develop strict risk protocols such as requiring vehicles arriving in Hong Kong to comply with safety regulations and be covered by third-party insurance.
The government would also prepare clear information on application procedures, driving rules and available amenities to provide convenience while maintaining strict controls, she noted.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South China Morning Post
31 minutes ago
- South China Morning Post
Xia on Hong Kong's future: strong governance, economy, society
This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP's journalism by subscribing . New users who download our updated app get a seven-day free trial. Beijing's point man on Hong Kong affairs addressed a national security law forum on Saturday as part of his third inspection visit to the city to assess its progress on multiple fronts. Xia Baolong's attendance at the forum, held to mark the fifth anniversary of the Beijing-imposed legislation, was a focus of the official's five-day visit. The Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office (HKMAO) director used the event to share his latest assessment of national security threats in the city, and issue directions for the city's development. More from our coverage: Reporting by Jeffie Lam, Jess Ma and Willa Wu.
The Standard
3 hours ago
- The Standard
HK restaurants rise in global culinary rankings as Peru's Maido takes top spot
Motorists to save $14 in fuel with new Central Kowloon Route as govt proposes tunnel toll hikes
South China Morning Post
3 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Chinese religious groups warned of ‘hidden danger' from foreign infiltration
The head of China's United Front Work Department, the Communist Party body that oversees religious organisations, has warned faith groups to guard against 'hidden dangers in the religious field and resolutely resist foreign infiltration'. Li Ganjie visited a number of religious organisations this week to deliver the warning, state news agency Xinhua reported. It follows a series of similar warnings by similar figures, including President Xi Jinping, who called for continued efforts to promote the 'sinicisation of religion' in a meeting with the Panchen Lama earlier this month The Panchen Lama is the second-highest spiritual leader in Tibetan Buddhism, after the Dalai Lama. The incumbent was selected by Beijing in a controversial process that passed over the Dalai Lama's chosen candidate. China's top security official Chen Wenqing, the head of the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission, has also called for the defeat of 'separatism' during a recent visit to Qinghai province, birthplace of the exiled Dalai Lama. The slew of Chinese leaders checking on religious matters comes just weeks before the Dalai Lama's 90th birthday on July 6.
