Hong Kong authorities have planned to expand a scheme allowing mainland Chinese motorists to drive into the city for leisure to all 21 Guangdong cities by the first quarter of next year, after applications reached about three times the daily quota.

Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan said on Saturday that about 15,000 motorists had applied through mainland authorities for next month’s Southbound Travel for Guangdong Vehicles scheme.

The scheme will be extended to all nine mainland cities in the Greater Bay Area, up from the current four, while the daily quota for urban trips will double from 100 to 200 starting July 25.

“The number of applicants for entry into Hong Kong’s urban areas next month has reached 15,000, about three times the daily quota, with roughly 60 per cent coming from newly added cities such as Shenzhen, Foshan and Dongguan,” Chan told a radio programme. “This shows there is real demand for the scheme.”

“We are collecting more data and hope to prepare for further expansion. By the first quarter of next year, we plan to extend the scheme to all 21 cities in Guangdong.”

Motorists from Shenzhen, Foshan, Dongguan, Huizhou and Zhaoqing will be newly eligible to join. Drivers from Guangzhou, Zhuhai, Jiangmen and Zhongshan are currently allowed to participate.