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Willa Wu

A new scheme that allows private cars from Guangdong province to enter Hong Kong’s urban areas has brought business opportunities for some, with users of a popular online platform selling courses on how to drive in the city or one-stop application services for mainland Chinese motorists.
Local businesses are also offering perks to drivers using the scheme, ranging from parking discounts to accommodation packages.
Under the “Southbound Travel for Guangdong Vehicles (Entry into Urban Area)” scheme, approved private cars from the neighbouring province are permitted to enter the city directly via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge. The scheme, which started on Tuesday, allows 100 drivers to travel to the city every day.
Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan said that nearly 100 mainland cars entered Hong Kong on the first day. The first batch of cars entered the city via the mega bridge at 12.50am, transport authorities said.
One of the first drivers to arrive, Guo Jingyi, said the flexibility of a private car allowed her family to visit locations outside traditional tourist districts.
“Since we can drive ourselves now, we want to go to Sham Tseng to eat roast goose,” she said. “Usually, as tourists, we rarely go all the way out there, but having our own car makes it easy.”
The scheme has not only widened options for tourists but also brought new business opportunities.

In a post on social media platform RedNote, a user named “Hong Kong prices just expensive” offered “cross-border driving adaptation courses” specifically designed for Guangdong drivers heading south.
The courses were suitable for mainland car owners who had already applied for the cross-border scheme and wanted to drive themselves but were unfamiliar with the city’s road conditions, the post said.
It said Hong Kong-licensed instructors would provide bilingual guidance in both Mandarin and Cantonese and accompany drivers throughout their journey, teaching them how to handle the city’s unique conditions, including hillside roads, narrow streets and bus lanes.
Registrants can also choose their preferred routes, but the post did not provide the price of the courses.
Another post on RedNote offers agency services for applying for the scheme to save drivers the trouble of going through all the necessary procedures.
Under the scheme, applications must be submitted online to Guangdong authorities. Applicants must arrange prior vehicle inspections, obtain Hong Kong driving licences for the designated drivers and complete local licensing formalities.
Designated drivers will also be required to obtain third-party risk insurance to comply with Hong Kong laws.
The agency in the RedNote post charges 3,880 yuan (US$552), which covers services to help applicants apply for licences and insurance.
Some local businesses are also looking to tap into the new market, with shopping centres, such as Sun Hung Kai Properties’ flagship mall, apm, in Kwun Tong, offering perks including parking and shopping discounts.
Hotel COZi allows drivers who book rooms for two nights to pick different properties in Tsuen Wan, Kwun Tong and Tuen Mun on each evening to allow them to keep their itinerary flexible.
Last week, the Transport Department said that 700 mainland drivers out of 1,700 ballot winners had applied to enter Hong Kong’s urban areas under the scheme.
Approved Guangdong private cars can cross into Hong Kong at booked time slots via the mega bridge.


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Social media users are selling driving courses to Guangdong car owners while local companies are offering perks to attract business


Social media users are selling driving courses to Guangdong car owners while local companies are offering perks to attract business.


Hong Kong firms hoping new southbound travel scheme will drive more business

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Social media users are selling driving courses to Guangdong car owners while local companies are offering perks to attract business

Social media users are selling driving courses to Guangdong car owners while local companies are offering perks to attract business