'New Cross-border Goods Arrangement To Take Effect'

Chief Executive John Lee said on Sunday that cross-border cargo truck drivers will soon be allowed to go directly to pick-up points on the mainland, in what would be a relaxation of anti-Covid measures.

Currently, Hong Kong drivers must pass their goods to a driver from the mainland, who then drives the items to their destinations, and vice versa.

The CE said the government and their Guangdong and Shenzhen counterparts have agreed in principle to scrap this arrangement, and they hope to implement the new system after ironing out the details within a day or two.

"Drivers will not need to go to a shuttle point anymore, they can go point to point to where they pick up or deliver the goods," he told reporters.

"Secondly, there won't be any quota. There's only a need to make a declaration in advance."

He said the governments also agreed to implement this as soon as possible, and the acting head of the Transport and Logistics Bureau, Liu Chun-san, will discuss the matter with Shenzhen authorities.

Lee also thanked the Guangdong and Shenzhen governments for their work and special arrangements to ensure the supply of daily necessities to Hong Kong and the smooth operation of supply chains.