HZMB sees record traffic in Q1

Passenger and vehicle traffic through the Zhuhai highway port of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) reached a new high in the first quarter of this year, setting the highest numbers since the bridge’s opening in 2018, as reported by CCTV yesterday.

According to Zhuhai border authorities, the port recorded 7.5 million passenger crossings in the first quarter, marking a 23% year-on-year increase.

Vehicle crossings also soared by 31%, reaching 1.56 million, both setting new records.

As of yesterday, over 170,000 drivers and more than 140,000 single-plate vehicles from the two special administrative regions (SARs) had been registered, fueling the surge in port traffic.

This increase is largely attributed to sustained policy incentives. Guangdong Province introduced the “Northbound Travel for Macao Vehicles” policy on January 1, 2023, allowing Macau-registered vehicles to enter the mainland via HZMB.

This was followed by a similar policy for Hong Kong vehicles in July 2023, further boosting traffic.

In the first quarter of 2024, the HZMB Border Inspection Station processed 880,000 crossings by single-plate Hong Kong and Macau vehicles, a 34% year-on-year rise.

Additionally, the expansion of mainland cities eligible for “individual travel” to Hong Kong and Macau has fueled tourism growth, with 1.5 million mainland travelers crossing the bridge in Q1, a 14% increase from last year.

Inbound travel has also surged, with the HZMB’s direct connection to Hong Kong International Airport and new visa policies attracting more international visitors.

In the first quarter, the station processed over 120,000 foreign travelers, up 22% from last year, including a significant rise in visa-free entries. Staff Reporter