by Wang Xinyi and Guo Xin

HONG KONG, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- A policy allowing private cars registered in south China's Guangdong Province to enter urban Hong Kong went into effect on Tuesday, a milestone that advances cross-border connectivity in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA).

Under the Southbound Travel for Guangdong Vehicles scheme (Entry into Urban Area), eligible car owners with confirmed travel reservations can drive into Hong Kong's city center via the Zhuhai Port of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge.

At 12:43 a.m., the first vehicle to cross the border -- a Tesla with an "FT" license plate -- pulled into the bridge's Hong Kong port. Its driver, surnamed Peng, waved to staff waiting to greet them.

"I was thrilled to qualify, and never dreamed I'd be the first," he said, adding that he had fully charged his car and left early to be part of the historic moment. For years, Peng relied on buses for business trips to Hong Kong; now, he plans to drive for leisure and the upcoming holiday season.

Initially, the scheme has capped daily entries into Hong Kong at 100, with each Guangdong car allowed a maximum three-day stay. Drivers must reserve and enter via the bridge's Zhuhai port. The policy first covers four Guangdong cities and is expected to expand province-wide in six months.

By 11:30 p.m. Monday, 10 eligible cars were already queuing at Zhuhai port of the bridge, all completing "one-stop" customs clearance within 10 minutes.

Drivers say the policy has sharply cut cross-border travel time. "It used to take three hours by bus or ferry; now driving halves that, and we can enjoy the scenery," said a Zhuhai driver surnamed Cao. He added that applications take about a month from submission to plate issuance with complete documents.

A Guangzhou driver surnamed Wang, who traveled with family to visit the Hong Kong Palace Museum and try local food, highlighted the convenience for families or those with large luggage, eliminating high-speed rail or bus transfers. He said concerns about driving differences were unfounded after practicing and learning local rules: "It's as easy as a Guangdong road trip."

A Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Border Checkpoint instructor said authorities upgraded "one-stop" inspection systems, optimized document reading and vehicle checks, assigned dedicated guidance staff, and balanced security with efficiency.

Also on Tuesday, a new EV charging station and cross-border driver information center opened in Penny's Bay, Lantau Island -- a 10-minute drive from the bridge's Hong Kong port and near attractions like the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort.

Operated by CLPe Solutions, the station initially has 9 fast-charging ports accepting Alipay, WeChat Pay, Octopus Card and credit cards. It also offers travel information and vending machines, supporting green transportation for both Guangdong and local drivers.

Mable Chan, secretary for Transport and Logistics of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government, called the measure a "milestone" that would facilitate people-to-people exchanges, strengthen Hong Kong's role as a transport hub connecting the Chinese mainland with the overseas, and boost tourism, economy and exhibitions.

She noted that the scheme is being rolled out steadily, with a daily quota of 100 vehicles, noting that this will enable people to truly experience the Guangdong-Hong Kong one-hour living circle and further deepen the integration of the GBA.

Ms. Guo, one of the first drivers to use the station, praised its left-hand-drive-friendly design and contactless access: "Charging and payment are simple and fast. The information center helped plan our trip. Very thoughtful."

As of 1 p.m. on Tuesday, 402 Guangdong-registered vehicles had completed border inspection filings for the scheme allowing entry into Hong Kong's urban areas, according to the Bridge's Checkpoint data.

Hong Kong now has 40 charging stations that comply with national standards. Another 900 medium-speed chargers, installed across more than 10 public car parks run by the HKSAR government, can be used with simple adapters.

To further boost cross-border convenience, some shopping malls have introduced instructions in simplified Chinese at charging facilities and added support for Chinese mainland payment systems. Experts say these small but telling tweaks, along with other facilitations, underscore the steady and comprehensive integration of the GBA. Enditem