Northbound traffic into mainland hits a peak

Traffic over the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge hit a peak on Saturday and Sunday, the second weekend after the northbound travel for Hong Kong vehicles program took effect on July 1.

According to border inspection station, more than 9,300 vehicles from Hong Kong and Macao entered or left the mainland via the bridge on Sunday, the most in a single-day since the beginning of the year.

It was the 7th time the bridge, which connects the three cities of Hong Kong, Zhuhai and Macao at the mouth of the Pearl River, hit a traffic peak this year.

The fast travel mode and convenient customs clearance environment are inducing an increasing number of Hong Kong residents to cross the bridge to visit Guangdong, according to a statement released by the bridge's border inspection station.

Border officers said they believed the number of Hong Kong and Macao vehicles crossing the border would surpass 10,000 in a single day before the end of July.

As of Sunday, more than 1,000 vehicles from Hong Kong alone had visited Guangdong province since the beginning of July, they said.

A Hong Kong resident surnamed Chan said it took him about 30 minutes to reach Zhuhai from Hong Kong via the bridge, which offers convenient customs procedures at the bridge checkpoint.

"I visited friends in Zhuhai's Doumen district on Friday and visited major scenic spots together with family members in the city on Saturday and Sunday," said Chan, who drove his car to Zhuhai on Friday afternoon and drove back home on Sunday evening.

Since July 1, under the northbound travel for Hong Kong vehicles program, residents of the special administrative region who have obtained an entry permit in advance are allowed to enter Guangdong through the highway port of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge.

Cars from Hong Kong can stay in the province for up to 30 days per trip and up to 180 days per year.

The program for private cars from Macao took effect at the start of this year.