Mega bridge go signal for fresh produce, livestock

Cross-border drivers can deliver fresh produce and livestock via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge from July 1 to help reduce cost and time. Deliveries should be made between 9pm and 5am.

The new measure means the trade will have one more alternative for transporting food products from the mainland to Hong Kong, apart from the Man Kam To Boundary Control Point in the northeast.

The Centre for Food Safety yesterday said vehicles carrying frozen and chilled meat and game, eggs, milk, vegetables and fruits can choose to enter Hong Kong via the mega bridge from 9pm on July 1. CFS will carry out inspections.

Inspection procedures at the bridge port will be similar to those for vehicles importing fresh produce via the Man Kam To Boundary Control Point, including examining details of import documents, conducting physical inspections and sampling fresh food.

Since December 2019, authorities have already allowed cross-border vehicles carrying fresh aquatic products to enter Hong Kong via the bridge, and last June the restrictions were lifted to include frozen and chilled poultry.

Hong Kong Land Transport Council chairman Stanley Chiang Chi-wai told The Standard that the new arrangement also saves time and money for cross-border drivers.

"Setting up a new import border in the west will be more convenient for trade. For example, if the fresh products are from Jiangmen, the HKZM Bridge will be a better choice compared with Man Kam To Boundary Control Point," Chiang said.

Agriculture and fisheries sector lawmaker Steven Ho Chun-yin said the costs saved by the new channel might be passed on to consumers, who will get more affordable options for fresh produce.

"If we import food from west of Zhuhai or Guangxi - from what I've heard from sector representatives last time we consulted them - using HKZM Bridge could save four to six hours, which would save fuel cost and the cost of hiring drivers," Ho said.

The Hong Kong port of the bridge inaugurated in October 2018 is located in the west, near the airport.

The bridge dramatically shortens the commuting time between Hong Kong, Zhuhai and Macau to one hour.

As the main bridge is located within mainland waters, the toll plaza is in accordance with mainland law, with container trucks paying 115 yuan (HK$125.50) while goods vehicles paying 60 yuan per trip.

According to Transport Department figures, over 12,500 goods and container carriers drove to Hong Kong through the bridge in March this year.

In February 2022, during the pandemic, the government considered setting the Liantang/Heung Yuen Wai Boundary Control Point as a fresh produce import point temporarily. It was not, however, implemented.

tsdreporter5@singtaonewscorp.com