Shortly after midnight on December 23rd, at the Zhuhai Highway Port of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (referred to as the Bridge Port), a private car with Guangdong C license plates smoothly entered the dedicated “Guangdong Vehicles Southbound” exit lane. The car window rolled down, and the driver completed temperature checks and identity verification through the “one-stop” inspection and release system. The lane screen immediately lit up with a green pass notification. The entire process was smooth and swift.

The first batch of successfully registered Guangdong private cars to drive into Hong Kong’s urban areas via the Bridge Port have cleared customs smoothly. This marks a new phase of “two-way direct access and direct entry to urban areas” for vehicle travel between Guangdong and Hong Kong.

The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Port is the only designated crossing point for the “Guangdong Vehicles Southbound” policy. By continuously optimizing supervision procedures and upgrading service efficiency, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Customs has effectively promoted more efficient and convenient vehicle travel between Guangdong and Hong Kong. Flowing in the opposite direction to the “southbound” traffic is the “Hong Kong Vehicles Northbound” and “Macao Vehicles Northbound” traffic. Since the beginning of this year, over 3.27 million single-plate vehicles from Hong Kong and Macao have passed through the port via the “northbound” routes, representing a year-on-year increase of 25.4%. These three major policies have collectively created a bustling scene of single-plate vehicles from the three regions converging at the Bridge Port.

“We have continuously optimized the supervision process and iteratively upgraded the ‘one-stop’ inspection and release system. We have set up 5 dedicated inspection and release channels in each direction for entry and exit. By leveraging data sharing, we achieve automatic verification of registration information, realizing ‘one vehicle stop, one system release.’ While improving efficiency, we have also simultaneously strengthened risk prevention and control to ensure both safety and efficiency during customs clearance,” an official explained.

Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge

The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge is a 55-kilometer-long sea-crossing bridge-tunnel system that opened in 2018, connecting Hong Kong, Zhuhai, and Macao across the Pearl River Delta. It is the world’s longest sea bridge and was constructed to integrate the economies and transportation networks of the Greater Bay Area. The project, which took nine years to build, represents a major feat of Chinese engineering and symbolizes regional connectivity.

Zhuhai Highway Port

The Zhuhai Highway Port is a major land border crossing connecting Zhuhai in mainland China to Macau. It was officially opened in 1999, coinciding with the handover of Macau from Portugal to China, to facilitate increased traffic and integration between the two regions. Today, it serves as a critical transportation and logistics hub for passengers and goods.

Hong Kong

Hong Kong is a Special Administrative Region of China, originally a British colony from 1842 until its handover in 1997. It is renowned as a global financial hub and vibrant metropolis, famous for its iconic skyline, Victoria Harbour, and unique fusion of Eastern and Western cultures. Its history as a major port and trading centre has shaped its dynamic, cosmopolitan character.

Zhuhai

Zhuhai is a modern coastal city in Guangdong Province, China, established as a special economic zone in 1980 to promote trade and investment. Historically a region of fishing villages, it transformed into a major urban center adjacent to Macau and is now known for its clean environment, scenic coastline, and as the home of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge.

Macao

Macao is a Special Administrative Region of China, known for its unique blend of Portuguese and Chinese heritage due to over 400 years of Portuguese colonial rule until its handover in 1999. Today, it is often called the “Las Vegas of Asia” for its prominent casino and tourism industry, while its historic center, featuring sites like the Ruins of St. Paul’s, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Guangdong

Guangdong is a coastal province in southeastern China with a history dating back over 2,000 years, historically known as a key terminus of the Maritime Silk Road. It is renowned as a major economic powerhouse and the heartland of Cantonese culture (including language, cuisine, and opera). Its capital, Guangzhou, has long been one of China’s most significant international trading ports.

Bridge Port

“Bridge Port” is not a widely recognized specific historical or cultural site. The name suggests it could refer to a port area near a significant bridge, like London’s Tower Bridge area or a district in various port cities. Without a specific location, a detailed history cannot be provided, but such places typically developed as vital trade and transportation hubs connecting waterways and land routes.