Secretary for Transport & Logistics Lam Sai-hung today began a two-day visit to Guangzhou for an update on smart mobility developments and to explore co-operation in the interconnection of transport networks in the Greater Bay Area.

He first met Guangdong Vice-Governor Lin Tao and Guangdong Department of Transport Director Lin Feiming to brief them on the latest situation of “Northbound Travel for Hong Kong Vehicles” and the aviation and logistics sectors in Hong Kong.

Mr Lam noted that the operation of “Northbound Travel for Hong Kong Vehicles” has been smooth since its implementation in July, with more than 10,000 Hong Kong private cars permitted to cross the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) into Guangdong for short-term business, family visits or sightseeing.

The number of trips from Hong Kong to Guangdong also increased steadily from about 3,000 per month in July to around 9,000 per month in August, he added.

The transport chief also spoke on the Labour Importation Scheme for Transport Sector launched in July to relieve the manpower shortage in the aviation industry and the public light bus/coach trade. On the aviation side, Mr Lam said the companies with approved labour importation quotas are in the process of recruitment.

Noting that the vast majority of the Mainland workers to be imported will reside in Zhuhai, he said Guangdong and Hong Kong will liaise closely on the accommodation and transportation arrangements for the workers imported to facilitate the movement of people and make good use of the HZMB.

As regards air traffic, Mr Lam noted that the Airport Authority is actively pursuing the further development of intermodal transport to allow more convenient land and sea access to Hong Kong International Airport by passengers travelling to and from the bay area and other parts of the world.

On the cargo side, the Airport Authority is actively developing the air-sea cargo intermodal transport between the airport and other cities in the bay area to uphold Hong Kong's position as an international aviation hub.

Mr Lam’s itinerary also included a meeting with China Railway Guangzhou Group Deputy General Manager Bao Liqun. They agreed that the Same-day Flexi-trip Arrangement implemented earlier between Hong Kong West Kowloon and Futian stations on the Hong Kong Section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link has met the needs of travellers.

Additionally, Mr Lam visited Guangzhou Automobile Group to understand the research and development work of its autonomous driving technology and new energy commercial vehicles. He also met the company's CPC Committee Deputy Secretary Chen Xiaomu to exchange views on the industry's latest developments.