From Saturday onwards, the travel scheme – which has logged more than 9,000 vehicle entries since its start in December – will be expanded to all nine mainland cities in the Greater Bay Area, up from four.
The daily travel booking quota for entry into urban areas will, in line with the expansion, also be increased from 100 to 200 vehicles.
Chan said on Saturday recent lottery applications have gone up three-fold under the expanded arrangements, with over 60 percent coming from the five newly added cities.
“Just looking at the numbers today, even though a typhoon is approaching, it has not dampened the enthusiasm of drivers from the mainland,” she said.
“We have nearly 170 families that are coming to Hong Kong through the scheme.
“I have spoken to a few of the families and they said they enjoy visiting various attractions, sightseeing and shopping in Hong Kong, especially now that they can drive along the very convenient highways from the mainland all the way to Hong Kong.”
Chan also said authorities aim to expand the southbound travel scheme to all 21 cities in Guangdong province by the first quarter of next year.
When asked whether southbound vehicles would be allowed to use the redeveloped Huanggang port, apart from the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge, Chan said she hopes such an expansion can be arranged once more experience is gleaned from the scheme’s operations.
She added that her bureau will discuss matters that crop up with Guangdong authorities.
