This unidentified file photo shows the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, a landmark project of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area development. The Transport Department said on Thursday that Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions have agreed to increase the regular quotas for Hong Kong cross-boundary non-commercial private cars using the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge HZMB to Macao.
The decision to increase the quotas by 1,000 on top of the existing 1,800 was made to improve traffic flow between Hong Kong and Macao and to better utilize the HZMB, according to the department. Private cars allocated with Hong Kong quotas will be allowed to access Macao multiple times via the HZMB.
The second quarter of 2023 will be the time when the additional 1,000 quotas will be distributed. The statement states that there are five hundred quotas for company applicants and 500 for individual applicants.
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The department said the quotas are valid for no more than three years and that if the number of applications exceeds the specified number of quotas, it will carry out balloting to determine the order of applications to be processed.
There will be a hundred quotas issued under the first phase, with 250 company quotas and 250 individual quotas. The TD said these can be used for travel via the HZMB from the second quarter of 2023 to May 31, 2026.
It added that the remaining 500 can be used from the third quarter of 2023 to July 31, 2026.
According to the department, the company quota is open to companies registered in Hong Kong and Macao, or companies registered in Hong Kong and associated with another company registered in Macao.
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The quota for Hong Kong permanent residents with remuneration in Macao or who have a registered company in Macao is open, it added.