Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge logs over 10 million vehicle crossings

The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) reached a significant milestone on Saturday afternoon, recording over 10 million vehicle crossings at its Zhuhai Port.

Since its inauguration in October 2018, the bridge has dramatically reduced the travel time between Guangdong Province and the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macao, greatly enhancing convenience for residents.

At 16:05 on Saturday, a Hong Kong-registered car driven by Wong Kwok-leung became the 10 millionth vehicle to pass through the Zhuhai Port.

Wong is a beneficiary of the facilitation schemes for northbound travel from Hong Kong and Macao, which were introduced on July 1, 2023.

These schemes permit eligible private cars registered in Hong Kong and Macao to travel to Guangdong Province via the HZMB without the need to obtain regular quotas.

"The facilitation schemes for northbound travel vehicles are indeed very convenient for residents of Hong Kong and Macao. We come here twice or three times a month for shopping, and we really enjoy coming here [Guangdong]," said Wong.

Vehicle flow at the Zhuhai Port has shown remarkable growth. From 860,000 crossings in 2019, the figure surged to 1.6 million in 2022 and further exploded to 3.26 million in 2023, averaging over 8,900 crossings per day.

This increase aligns with the easing of border restrictions and the implementation of facilitation schemes to encourage northbound travel from Hong Kong and Macao.

Since the start of this year, the border inspection station at the bridge has handled an average of 69,000 inbound and outbound travelers per day, an increase of 56 percent over the previous year, with a monthly growth rate of 11 percent.

"The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Zhuhai Port is the sole designated port for vehicles from Macao and Hong Kong traveling north. With small cars being granted free passage via the HZMB during the coming Labor Day holiday, we anticipate a significant uptick in travel enthusiasm among residents from both special administrative regions," said Bao Haiyang, deputy director of the border inspection at the HZMB border inspection station.

Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge logs over 10 million vehicle crossings

A Chinese Navy fleet will visit Cambodia and Timor-Leste from the first half of May to mid-June, the Ministry of National Defense has said.

The fleet comprises Chinese naval training ship Qijiguang and amphibious dock landing ship Jinggangshan, which set sail from ports in Dalian City of northeast China's Liaoning Province on May 10.

The visits are part of the Chinese Navy's schedule for a training program in the far seas, during which naval cadets from Cambodia and other countries will join their Chinese peers to carry out relevant exercises.

The mission aims to enhance the naval cadets' capabilities of practical operation and strengthen the Chinese Navy's pragmatic cooperation and mutual trust with the navies of Cambodia and Timor-Leste, the ministry said.

"This is my third time to participate in a naval fleet to the far seas. As a graduate-to-be who is about to embark on missions for safeguarding our country's territorial waters, I expect this journey to lay a solid foundation for my first job," said Tian Qi, a Chinese naval cadet, in an interview with the China Central Television (CCTV) as the warships set sail.

"Through this training, we aim to fully tap the far seas' potential for our training programs and hold teaching sessions that simulate real combat to boost the cadets' job capabilities as much as possible. Meanwhile, we will carry out cultural exchange activities to enhance mutual trust and friendships with the destination countries, so that our training vessel can make its contribution to nurturing naval talent and conducting maritime diplomacy," said Feng Liang, captain of the Qijiguang ship.

Chinese navy vessels to visit Cambodia, Timor-Leste