This undated photo shows a view of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge. (PHOTO / VCG)
HONG KONG – The Hong Kong Administrative Region government has suggested monthly toll payments for cross- boundary vehicles using the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and concessionary arrangements to encourage more people to use the world’s longest sea crossing, Secretary for Transport and Logistics Lam Sai-hung said Wednesday.
Answering a query at the Legislative Council, Lam said the government was also preparing to implement the "unilateral recognition" policy for cross-boundary motor insurance to spare car owners from having to purchase separate policies for HKSAR and the Chinese mainland.
Before the pandemic, about 80,000 cross-boundary vehicles from Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao,including cross-boundary private cars and hire cars, port shuttle buses, cross-boundary coaches, cross-boundary goods vehicles, were eligible to use HZMB
“For the suggestion of introducing a monthly pass for using HZMB, while there are currently no such monthly passes being provided to HZMB users…we have relayed to the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Authority, which is responsible for determining the toll levels of HZMB, the suggestion on monthly payment of tolls by cross-boundary vehicles using HZMB for its reference and consideration,” Lam said.
He said the Transport Department will actively liaise with the operator of the Gold Buses that provide port shuttle bus services via HZMB to “explore the feasibility of introducing more concessionary arrangements to attract patronage and cater for the transport needs of different passengers.”
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“For example, half-fare concessions are being offered to children, people with disabilities and the elderly who travel by Gold Buses,” Lam said.
To further facilitate Hong Kong private cars' travelling to and from Guangdong, Lam said the HKSAR government was preparing to implement the "unilateral recognition" policy for cross-boundary motor insurance so that the coverage of third-party insurance policies issued by Hong Kong insurers for Hong Kong private cars that enter Guangdong via HZMB may be extended to cover third-party liability on the mainland, sparing car owners from having to buy separate policies for Hong Kong and the mainland.
Currently, more than 10 Hong Kong insurers are ready to offer "unilateral recognition" motor insurance products once the Quota-free Scheme for Hong Kong Private Cars Travelling to Guangdong via HZMB is launched by the governments of Guangdong and Hong Kong, he said.
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Before the pandemic, about 80,000 cross-boundary vehicles from Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao,including cross-boundary private cars and hire cars, port shuttle buses, cross-boundary coaches, cross-boundary goods vehicles, were eligible to use HZMB.