The Guangdong and Hong Kong governments will launch phase one of the Ad Hoc Quota Trial Scheme for Cross Boundary Private Cars (Guangdong-Hong Kong Self-drive Tour Scheme) in March, allowing Hong Kong people to enter Guangdong by self-drive private cars. Phase two of the scheme is to open up mainland cars to enter Hong Kong. The Government will study the implementation details of phase two once phase one is operating smoothly. However, there have been many voices of opposition recently. In this issue, Dr Hung Wing-tat, Associate Professor of PolyU’s Department of Civil and Structural Engineering, will share with us his insights into this subject.

1/ What do you think of this policy?

Exchanges between Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland are becoming more and more frequent. Daily cross-border activities include: going to work, going to school, work-related activities, travel, leisure activities, visiting relatives, exchanges etc. With a substantial increase in cross-border flows of people and traffic, the implementation of the self-drive tour scheme is in tune with the trend. The Hong Kong Government needs to formulate a comprehensive plan to reduce the negative impact of the scheme, and then conduct a public consultation and respond to various concerns of the public. The scheme has to be further improved before its official launch.

2/ There are many voices of opposition in society against the second phase of the scheme, i.e. the arrangement of allowing mainland cars to enter Hong Kong. Please analyse this phenomenon.

Hong Kong people’s fear of mainland vehicles travelling locally is understandable. Besides the problems of worsening traffic congestion, air and noise pollution, the attitude of mainland drivers and the fact that vehicles in these two places move in opposite directions further make Hong Kong people worry that the negative impacts of this policy might outweigh the benefits. In fact, citizens of many cities in the world, including Beijing, Shanghai, New York and London, have similar concerns. Therefore, their governments have imposed various measures to restrict the entrance of foreign vehicles, like electronic road pricing and entry restricted to green vehicles only. However, these governments have not completely banned foreign vehicles from flowing in an orderly manner.  

3/ Is the self-drive tour scheme important to Hong Kong?

Currently, quite a number of people in Hong Kong are holders of special driving licences for private cars which can travel between Hong Kong and the mainland. Most of them are politicians, government officials and businessmen. As a cosmopolitan city which emphasizes equality and openness, Hong Kong should develop a well-planned transport network and policies so that more civilians can drive their private cars across the boundary for activities. This will be conducive to the long-term development of the economy and society.

4/ Will the Government’s policy of opening up self-drive tour to Hong Kong complicate the matter of mainland pregnant women giving birth in Hong Kong?

I believe that opening up self-drive tour to Hong Kong has nothing to do with the issue of mainland pregnant women giving birth in Hong Kong. All self-drive cross-boundary travellers and their private cars must go through immigration control. Same as travelling on public transport, they will not be admitted to the city if they cannot present the required documents.