The Macau government has announced that the number of quotas for permits for Macau vehicles to enter Zhuhai’s Hengqin Island will be raised to 10,000 from the current 5,000, starting on March 15.

The application requirements will also be eased, according to which Macau residents aged at least 18 will be able to apply for a permit, without any other conditions required.

Currently, only those working, living (i.e. owning a flat), or making an investment (i.e. running a company) in Hengqin can apply for vehicle permits to enter the island, colloquially known single licence plates.

Macau vehicles with a Guangdong-Macau dual licence plate can travel throughout the whole of Guangdong province, while Macau vehicles which have got a single licence plate permit can travel within Hengqin.

The Macau Government Information Bureau (GCS) made the announcement about the new quota arrangement in a statement on Monday.

The statement pointed out that the single-plate measure for Macau vehicles to enter Hengqin got off the ground in December 2016, when initially only 400 quotas were available.

The statement said that the single-plate measure was an “important” move in line with the central government’s raft of measures benefiting Macau’s development.

The quotas were raised from 2,500 to the current 5,000 in July last year. Monday’s statement said that the gradual increase in the number of quotas since the measure’s launch “has greatly promoted movement of people between Macau and Hengqin.”

Monday’s statement said that after the increase of the number of quotas in March 15, applicants who meet the current requirements for a permit will have priority to be allocated a permit ahead of other applicants.

This undated handout photo released by the Macau Government Information Bureau on Monday shows Macau vehicles with a single licence plate permit crossing the mainland-Macau joint border checkpoint in Hengqin.