STARTING next month, Hong Kong vehicles traveling north across the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macao Bridge (HZMB) into Guangdong Province will no longer need reservations on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, with some exceptions. Reservations will still be required on Mondays and Thursdays through Sundays, as well as on public holidays, the day before public holidays, toll-free days on the HZMB, and any other dates designated by the authorities. The Transport Department of Hong Kong said the change, jointly agreed to by the Guangdong and Hong Kong governments, aims to make the Northbound Travel for Hong Kong Vehicles program more flexible and convenient for the public. Specific dates which do not require crossing reservations will be added to the program’s website in the next six months by the department. Additionally, on the first calendar day of each month, dates in the following month that do not require a reservation will be announced via the Specified Dates Booking System. The program’s eligibility rules, application procedures, and balloting arrangements remain unchanged. Existing arrangements to accept reservations for specified dates in the following month from the 15th calendar day of each month will also continue. Applicants may refer to the website (www.hzmbqfs.gov.hk) for more details. By the end of June of this year, 2.85 million trips had been made by Hong Kong vehicles under the Northbound Travel for Hong Kong Vehicles program. (Tang Li) Northbound Travel for HK Vehicles program LAUNCHED on July 1, 2023, the program allows approved Hong Kong vehicles to travel between Hong Kong and Guangdong via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge without the need to obtain regular quotas. Reservation applications are only accepted online. Applicants must submit the application and required supporting documents on the program website. Applicants are notified by email or SMS about their application status and required formalities by the mainland authorities via the e-mail address or mainland mobile number they provided on the application form. | 