Cross-border vehicles subject to inspections in both jurisdictions: Tam

Cross-border vehicles must be subject to inspection in both jurisdictions, the Secretary for Transport and Public Works, Raymond Tam, said in response to an inquiry from lawmaker Che Sai Wang.

Che had claimed that there is great confusion regarding the issuance of license plates for vehicles from the mainland and Hong Kong driving in Macau, specifically those with plates starting with the letters “GC” and “HK.”

He said that there are doubts about the purposes and requirements for operating such vehicles, as well as safety concerns.

According to the Secretary, “Vehicles with ‘GC’ registration are legally registered in Macau and are therefore subject to inspection under local law.

In the case of vehicles with dual registration – i.e., those from Guangdong and Macau –  they are required to undergo inspections at both a state-recognized inspection body and the Motor Vehicle Inspection Center of the Transport Bureau, to ensure they meet the legal requirements in both jurisdictions.”

In his response, Tam did not provide any insight or comment on the other issues mentioned by Che, namely the differences in driving habits and road legislation between Macau and the mainland, which he said were factors that easily create road safety problems.

The issues related to cars that drive on both sides of the border have been debated on several occasions, primarily motivated by incidents and accidents in which vehicles with cross-border plates have driven on the wrong side of the road or entered one-way streets.

In November last year, the same matter was addressed by António Monteiro, who was then a member of the Central District Community Advisory Board. Monteiro urged the government to intensify the inspection and supervision of traffic offenses committed by cross-border non-local drivers.

He suggested that authorities “consider strengthening the enforcement of inspections, rules, and fines for drivers from outside Macau.”

He also recommended that repeated or severe traffic violations should result in the suspension of these drivers’ licenses in Macau, with offenders required to undergo a driving examination to ensure their ability to drive safely.

Monteiro pointed out that such measures are already in place for local drivers who commit serious traffic infractions, particularly on Macau bridges.

Another concern raised by Monteiro at the same time was the growing number of vehicles with left-hand drive wheels (from mainland China) driving in Macau, where traffic follows the left-hand side of the road rather than the right, noting that these vehicles present a safety risk due to their limited visibility, especially in situations such as overtaking and unmarked intersections.

On this matter, Tam noted that with the growing number of exchanges between Guangdong and Macau, the local government has been stepping up efforts to raise awareness of road safety.

It is alerting drivers traveling between the mainland and Macau to the differences in driving rules and practices in both regions through various channels.

On the other hand, she also stated that the government has been combating road traffic offenses through the interdepartmental coordination mechanism.