The period of validity of the "Northbound Travel for Hong Kong Vehicles" scheme has been extended by five years to June 1, 2031, according to a circular released by the People's Government of Guangdong Province on Saturday.
The scheme came into effect on June 1, 2023, with a three-year period of validity at first.
Since July 1, 2023, eligible Hong Kong private cars have been allowed to travel between Hong Kong and south China's Guangdong Province via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge without the need to obtain regular quotas.
The extension marks a crucial step towards stronger connectivity and integrated development within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
'Northbound Travel for Hong Kong Vehicles' scheme extended to 2031
World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus arrived in Bunia, the capital of the northeastern Ituri Province and the epicenter of the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), on Saturday to support the ongoing response to Ebola.
Tedros met government officials, community leaders, humanitarian agencies and health partners during his visit, stressing that public confidence and community participation would be essential to ending transmission.
Speaking at a joint press conference, Tedros highlighted the importance of building community trust and ensuring safe burials to prevent further spread. He emphasized that the WHO will stand with DR Congo throughout the Ebola outbreak.
"WHO will remain alongside DRC for as long as it takes. Our commitment does not end when an outbreak does," said Tedros.
Prior to his arrival in Bunia, the WHO chief visited Kinshasa, the DRC capital, as the country steps up its response to the fast-spreading Ebola outbreak.
The latest crisis is the DRC's 17th Ebola outbreak since 1976. The current outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain, for which there is currently no licensed vaccine or specific treatment.
On Thursday, Africa CDC reported a total of 1,077 suspected cases and 246 probable deaths have been recorded since the DRC declared its 17th Ebola outbreak two weeks ago.
WHO chief voices unity with DR Congo in fighting Ebola
