Hong Kong Monitors Bridge and Rail Checkpoints; Eyes Upscale ‘Northbound Car’ Market

In a separate National Day inspection, Hong Kong Transport and Logistics Secretary Mable Chan revealed real-time traffic-monitoring upgrades at both the West Kowloon high-speed rail terminus and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) port. Speaking to Cantonese-language media on October 1, Chan said authorities expect sustained two-way flows over the seven-day holiday, with particular attention on the growing ‘northbound travel for Hong Kong vehicles’ scheme that lets private cars drive directly into Guangdong. The HZMB’s Hong Kong port now features machine-learning cameras that count vehicle classes and relay congestion alerts to drivers via a WeChat mini-program. Meanwhile, a pilot fleet of autonomous shuttles is being tested between West Kowloon and Kowloon Station to create an airport-rail link for late-night arrivals. Chan highlighted high-spending self-drive tourists from Guangdong as a target segment, noting that hotels and malls have bundled parking with dining credits to lure overnight visitors. Data from the Transport Department show daily bridge vehicle slots booked for the holiday week are running at 95 percent of the 7,000-car quota, up from 70 percent during the May Day break. Business-travel stakeholders should watch this trend: executive roadshows between Shenzhen tech parks and Hong Kong CBDs can now be completed without coach transfers, shaving up to 45 minutes off door-to-door journeys. Firms with frequent cross-border meetings are applying for multi-entry electronic vehicle licences, valid for 12 months. Chan added that her bureau is negotiating with Guangdong to raise the daily vehicle cap to 10,000 before the 2027 Spring Festival, contingent on smooth Golden Week operations.