Shenzhen-licensed vehicles allowed to enter Hong Kong

Starting 9 a.m. today, Shenzhen motorists can apply to drive their Shenzhen-licensed vehicles into Hong Kong, following the latest expansion of the “Southbound Travel for Guangdong Vehicles” policy jointly announced by Guangdong and Hong Kong authorities.

Shenzhen is one of the five Pearl River Delta cities newly added in the initiative, which is being rolled out across the Guangdong Province in two phases. The other newly included cities are Foshan, Dongguan, Huizhou, and Zhaoqing. Together with Guangzhou, Zhuhai, Jiangmen, and Zhongshan, the program now covers nine cities in Guangdong.

Authorities plan to evaluate the current rollout with the goal of extending the policy to all 21 cities in Guangdong by the first quarter of 2027.

The policy offers two distinct options for mainland motorists: parking at the automated car park of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) Hong Kong Port, and driving directly into Hong Kong’s urban areas.

Starting today, private car owners from the nine eligible Guangdong cities can reserve parking spaces at the Hong Kong Port for the “Fly-via-Hong Kong” service. Starting June 15, approved motorists can drive via the HZMB to the automated parking lot and transfer directly to flights at the Hong Kong International Airport.

A second service, Visit-via-Hong Kong, will open for applications July 16. This service allows travelers to park at the port and enter Hong Kong through the passenger clearance building for local sightseeing or business.

Due to high demand, a lottery system has been established to manage direct driving access to Hong Kong’s urban areas.

From today until June 20, eligible car owners from the five newly added cities can register for the July lottery, which offers 4,600 slots based on a daily limit of 200 vehicles. Winners can submit their documentation starting June 29, with approved vehicles permitted to enter Hong Kong's urban areas starting July 25.

Several strict regulations remain in place to ensure an orderly rollout. All participating vehicles must use the HZMB Zhuhai Highway Port as their sole point of entry and exit. Vehicles entering the Hong Kong urban areas must display both Guangdong and Hong Kong license plates, possess valid Hong Kong insurance, and hold all required permits. Stays in the urban areas are limited to a maximum of three consecutive days per visit. Vehicles using the automated car park must return to the mainland within six months.

As driving habits and traffic laws in Hong Kong differ significantly from those on the mainland (such as right-hand drive vs. left-hand drive), authorities have urged motorists to familiarize themselves with local regulations to ensure safety and compliance.

This expansion marks a significant milestone in regional connectivity and is expected to further bolster the economic and social integration of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.