Explore GBA | Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge ties cities in GBA closer

“Trucks that are exempt from inspections can pass the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) Zhuhai Port in about 3 to 5 minutes with the efficient customs clearance service,” said Wang Wei, Deputy Chief of the Zhuhai Municipal Bureau of Commerce.

In June, a new passage linked by HZMB, Hegang Bridge and Honghe High Speed Railway was put into use along with affiliated projects, which have started to assure higher efficiency for logistics among western Guangdong cities, Hong Kong and Macao.

According to Wang, the distance from cities like Guangzhou, Foshan, Jiangmen, Zhuhai, and Zhongshan to Hong Kong has been shortened by 1,000 kilometers, and the time has dropped by 1.5 hours through this new passage.

This port provides 24-hour customs clearance services, with an average of over 1,000 trucks passing daily.

High-tech inspection equipment, online declaration and permission, giving priority to trucks carrying urgent and fresh goods, and other measures have been used to increase efficiency. As a result, clearance times now take 80 percent less time than they did when this bridge was first put into use.

“The products passing by this port are mainly foods and living supplies for Hong Kong and Macao, as well as cross-border e-commerce goods for exportation. In the first half of 2023, goods worth 28.42 billion RMB for cross-border e-commerce have been exported through this port, with a YoY 150.8 percent increase,” Ye Yingqiong, Chief of the Fourth Regulatory Section of HZMB Customs, introduced.

As a cross-border passage connecting Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao, the bridge has greatly facilitated trade in the GBA with shortened distance, time and cost.

According to official data from the HZMB Zhuhai Port, 1.87 billion RMB aquatic products were exported to Hong Kong in the first half of 2023, a YoY increase of 41.1 percent. Fresh food supplied to Hong Kong has been given priority for customs clearance since a fast line for fresh food opened on July 1.

As of June 2023, the goods passing by this port worth 652.43 billion RMB in total after the HZMB opened on October 24, 2018. The total value of imports and exports through this port hit 269.2 billion RMB in 2022, with a YoY growth of 102.8 percent.

Wang Wei claims that Zhuhai is pushing for the signing of cooperation agreements with western Guangdong cities in order to strengthen ties between the Greater Bay Area cities of Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao.

Reporter: Rofel, Wang Ziqing (Intern)

Photo: Southern Metropolis Daily & N Video

Editor: Olivia, Jasmine, James