Macao places limits on bridge traffic from Hong Kong

Most Hong Kong motorists traveling by bridge to Macao will have to reserve a parking spot a month ahead of time, pay for it at least 12 hours in advance, leave their cars offshore, and take public transport into the city. The exception is a quota initiative allowing 300 private Hong Kong-registered vehicles unlimited access to Macao with a three-year validity permit.

An executive order regulating entrance from the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge was published by the Macao SAR on Feb 21. It concerns 3,000 passenger-car spaces in the Macao Border Crossing Checkpoint Parking Garage on the Bay Bridge island.

The fee to park in the seven-story garage will be MOP 180 ($22.40) every 12 hours from 10 am to 10 pm, and 10 pm to 10 am. Overstays will be charged MOP 270 ($33.60) for each period and can eventually be towed.

The maximum stay is eight consecutive days -- a total of 16 consecutive blocks of time, according to the executive order.

Parking lot at Gongbei Checkpoint [Photo courtesy Zhuhai Daily]

Once the HZM Bridge opens, drivers of Hong Kong-registered private vehicles traveling to and from Macao will be able to apply for either the transit or quota options.

Meanwhile, 500 automobiles with Macao license plates will be allowed to cross the bridge to Hong Kong for one year and 100 for six months at a time.