Shenzhen resident Angela Lu was excited about the recent news that Guangdong motorists will be able to drive and stay in Hong Kong for three days under a cross-border travel scheme, but balked at the prospect of high parking fees and a required detour.

The “Southbound Travel for Guangdong Vehicles” scheme is due to open for applications in November, and successful applicants will be able to drive into the city by the end of the year.

In a post on mainland Chinese social media platform RedNote, the 33-year-old said she was initially tempted by the convenience of taking a leisurely trip to Hong Kong with her children in her own car.

But she added that she later had second thoughts after other users reminded her that she would need to have a Hong Kong driving licence, apply for a plate of the scheme, undergo vehicle inspections, buy third-party insurance and drive to Zhuhai first before travelling over the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge.

“After reading all the comments, I don’t want to drive there any more,” the postdoctoral researcher told the Post.

“The main concerns include the fact that I have to detour, plus the expensive parking fees and limited parking spaces.”