Over 100,000 Macau cars travel to mainland in May under new policy

With the building of traffic arteries, the connectivity in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area has been continuously improved. The convenient transport network has also enhanced the logistics efficiency within the area and injected new vitality into local development of business. (Xinhua/Liu Dawei)

Since a new traveling policy took effect in December 2022, some 7,800 Macau-registered automobiles traveled to the Chinese mainland in the first month, and that number surpassed 100,000 in May, according to Gongbei Customs in south China’s Guangdong province.   

The “Northbound Travel for Macao Vehicles” policy is a brand new scheme to enhance connectivity within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. With the approval of pre-arranged customs clearance, Macau vehicles can enter Guangdong directly through the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge.

Statistics show that since the implementation of the new policy, over 40,000 accounts have been registered in the system with over 17,000 qualified vehicles, demonstrating the enthusiasm of Macau drivers.

"My application was approved in about ten days, just in time for the Lunar New Year. Now I can take my family back to my hometown," said a Macau resident. He added that his dream of self-driving in Guangdong with his Macau-registered vehicle would soon come true.

Yan Yiheng, a member of the Legislative Council of the Macao Special Administrative Region, stated that “Northbound Travel for Macao Vehicles” policy facilitates the deep integration of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, accelerating the flow of people, goods, capital and information among the regions.

The legislation not only makes it easier for individuals to travel, but it also spurs the Greater Bay Area's integrated development, injecting new vitality into the regional economy. Many young people from Macau would migrate to the north to work and invest.

Wang Shaoyi, a Macau youth, established a cross-border e-commerce company in Zhuhai city, south China's Guangdong province. "I have greatly benefited from the policy. Now, I can travel between Zhuhai and Macau daily for business negotiations, saving a lot of time and costs," said Wang.

Source：Xinhua; trans-editing by Guo Yao