Hong Kong's Transport Department has received over 700 applications from Guangdong province for permits allowing private cars to drive into Hong Kong's urban areas.

The initiative, set to take effect as early as midnight on Dec 23, permits eligible and approved vehicles from Guangdong to enter Hong Kong via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge under the "Southbound Travel for Guangdong Vehicles" scheme. Approved vehicles may stay in Hong Kong for up to three days.

A spokesperson for the Transport Department said at a media briefing on Thursday that among the previously released 1,700 slots, 700 applications have been requested. All applications can be approved as long as the submitted materials are correct, the spokesperson said, while noting that processing time is not tracked, and there is no definitive figure on the number of reservations.

The daily quota at the initial stage is 100 vehicles.

The spokesperson said that since Dec 9 the department has accepted applications already reviewed by the Chinese mainland authorities for further review. Once the Hong Kong side has completed all necessary procedures, mainland departments will send an approval notice to car owners. Before setting off, owners must install a Hong Kong license plate starting with "FT" and add value to HKeToll, a free-flow toll system in HKSAR.

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Regarding vehicle safety, all participating vehicles must be tested at vehicle inspection centers aligned with Hong Kong standards. Currently, there are 13 eligible centers in Guangzhou, Jiangmen, Zhongshan, and Zhuhai.

Due to the different driving regulations in Hong Kong, mainland cars entering HKSAR cannot use the remote control parking function or smart driving system, the spokesperson emphasized.