Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan said on Friday her bureau would be responsible for ensuring road safety when a scheme allowing some Guangdong cars to drive into Hong Kong begins next month.

Under the Southbound Travel scheme, up to 100 cars can cross the border into the SAR each day from Guangdong and stay for up to three days.

At a Legislative Council transport panel meeting, lawmaker Chau Siu-chung asked if mainland drivers would be required to participate in a simple written test to prove their awareness of general Hong Kong practices on the road – or only be allowed to apply for the scheme one to three years after getting a Hong Kong driver licence.

Mable Chan said past data showed that the number of traffic accidents involving mainland left-hand drive vehicles is far less than that of right-hand drive ones.

The bureau, she added, has implemented measures to provide mainland drivers with information about the differences between driving across the border and in Hong Kong.

“For example, we often see that some roads on the mainland allow cars to make U-turns," Mable Chan said.

"While this is allowed there, Hong Kong’s roads can be narrow, and our usual rules may not permit U-turns on every road.

"We need to share these details with drivers earlier.

“In addition to guides provided during vehicle inspections in Guangdong, the bureau has also filmed short promotional videos.

"We will also insert practical driving tips in the Transport Department’s travel app and popular navigation apps used by mainland drivers.”

The bureau would also hold seminars on the mainland through different automobile associations to educate drivers on what they need to take note of when driving in Hong Kong, Chan said.

Several lawmakers also expressed concern over enforcement action on overdue fines incurred by mainland drivers.

Chan said mainland drivers would be able to pay their fines through e-payment options after returning to the mainland and that there is a system set up in co-operation with Guangdong to keep track of their cars if they reapply to come to Hong Kong.

Regarding concerns that some mainland drivers may misuse the scheme to carry out illegal ride-hailing services in Hong Kong, the bureau’s deputy secretary Edward Mak said drivers confirmed with violations could have their southbound travel qualifications disqualified.

He added that the Guangdong authorities are considering carrying out random inspections at border points, and the SAR will also develop methods to verify if the vehicle entering Hong Kong is driven by the individual who applied for the scheme.