The Transport Department today said it has refined the arrangements for renewal applications for Northbound Travel for Hong Kong Vehicles (NTHKV) to allow eligible applicants to submit their renewal applications online without the need to take part in a computer ballot.

With immediate effect, the refined arrangements will only be applicable to NTHKV renewal applicants who meet all of the specified criteria - the applicant remains unchanged, the vehicle remains unchanged, and the designated drivers remain unchanged.

Applicants who fail to meet any of these criteria must participate again in the computer ballot and submit NTHKV applications in the form of a new application within the allotted designated period.

To facilitate these applicants to register for the computer ballot, the department will relax the computer ballot registration period at the same time, from 30 days before the expiry of their Closed Road Permit to 60 days before.

From today, the department will send emails in phases to holders of an NTHKV Closed Road Permit that expires in or after July this year, inviting them to submit NTHKV renewal applications.

Eligible applicants for NTHKV renewal may use the passcode provided in the email and their personal information to file renewal applications on the designated website within the allotted designated application period as specified in the email.

If eligible applicants do not submit their renewal applications within the designated period allotted, they will need to participate again in the computer ballot to obtain an application quota, and submit the application as a new application within the allotted period.

The department will launch a new function on the designated website on May 20 for applicants to check the invitation details of their renewal application.

Holders of valid NTHKV licences may also enquire whether they are invited to submit renewal applications, check their allotted application periods and their passcodes.

In addition, to tie in with the Mainland authorities’ arrangements, the department, upon completion of the preliminary vetting of the applications, will pass them for the Mainland authorities’ processing within 30 days prior to the expiry of electronic vehicle licences from those authorities.

Applicants will be notified by email of the updated application status and may also check their application status on the above website.

Additionally, starting next month, the number of NTHKV applications to be processed will be increased from 300 to 400 applications per working day, in order to better cope with the needs of new and renewal applications.