Over 100,000 HK vehicles applied for northbound travel permits

Over 100,000 Hong Kong private cars have applied for permits to travel to the mainland under the Northbound Travel for Hong Kong Vehicles scheme since its implementation in July 2023, said Secretary for Transport & Logistics Mable Chan.

Writing in her blog Saturday, the government official said the scheme has received some 8,000 new applications in the first two months of this year. The surge in applications pushed the total number of applications past the 100,000 mark, with around 96,000 of them already approved.

She mentioned that the number of daily applications for the scheme has been increased from 400 to 500 to better cater to the demand, while preparations are underway for the launch of "southbound travel for Guangdong cars" later this year.

Meanwhile, Chan said the Transport Department now offers a total of 22 electronic services, including renewing vehicle licenses and driving licenses and applying for international driving permits.

Last year saw a significant increase in online applications, with over 560,000 cases processed through online channels, more than tripling the figures from 2021, indicating a growing acceptance of electronic services among applicants, she said.

The transport chief also noted that the total number of applications for various major licensing services last year reached approximately 2.8 million, reflecting a 14 percent increase compared to 2021 and demonstrating a keen demand for these services.

Chan also wrote in her blog that the introduction of "E-Licensing Portal" by the Transport Department last year, along with streamlining the documentation required for vehicle license renewals, is expected to significantly reduce processing times for online renewal applications from 10 working days to less than 3 days by eliminating manual verification processes.