Chan has been discussing the southbound travel scheme with her Guangdong counterparts, and the aim is for details to be announced this year.
The scheme involves two stages – the first allowing Guangdong drivers to drive to a carpark on Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge, with the second phase expanded to include urban areas.
Speaking at a Legislative Council meeting, the secretary for transport and logistics said the scheme will be rolled out in an orderly manner – when the risks and impact on locals are under control.
Officials, she said, will assess traffic conditions on the mega bridge and the capacity of nearby roads, and traffic will be diverted away during peak hours.
Efforts will also be made to require Guangdong drivers to comply with local rules and regulations to ensure safety and to purchase a third-party insurance in Hong Kong.
As the scheme reciprocates the northbound programme for Hong Kong cars, there’ll also be a quota for mainland vehicles coming here.
The DAB’s Ben Chan expressed concerns about Hong Kong’s ability to accommodate the extra traffic given a shortage of parking spaces.
In response, Mable Chan said that while parking is also a top priority, it’s not something that should hold the scheme up.
“We can’t stand still just because there aren’t enough land and car parking space,” she said.
“When we implement the southbound scheme, especially when it stretches to cover the urban areas, we will do so in an orderly manner.
“There’ll be a quota for southbound vehicles to ensure the scheme will be safe and make things convenient for travellers.
“We will also consider public acceptability.”
Chan went on to say that different sectors, such as retail, catering and tourism, have to work together with the government so as to ensure that the scheme can boost local consumption.
For his part, transport sector lawmaker Frankie Yick from the Liberal Party said officials need to ensure that no mainland drivers would come to Hong Kong to provide illegal car hailing services.
He proposed immigration officers be empowered to check whether vehicles are being driven by southbound car scheme applicants.
Mable Chan said officials will consider this issue in a serious manner but also don’t want to make Guangdong drivers feel there are too many restrictions.
