Hong Kong residents are flocking to drive across the border to refill fuel in mainland China after war events caused oil prices in Hong Kong to soar to three times higher than in China.
The turmoil in the Middle East has caused global oil prices to rise sharply. Similarly, in Hong Kong, fuel prices surged to about 140 baht per liter last week, while in mainland China the price was 45 baht per liter. This has led many Hong Kong residents to decide to drive to China to refuel.
Ringo Lee, a senior figure in Hong Kong's automotive industry, told local media that although oil prices in mainland China have been rising steadily, they remain three times cheaper than in Hong Kong.
He also said that in the past week, there was a noticeable increase in the number of Hong Kong residents driving to mainland China to refuel.
One traveler who refilled fuel in China said he usually spends about 5,000 baht per week on fuel in Hong Kong. But if he drives to Shenzhen and Guangzhou in Guangdong Province, southern China, his total fuel cost combined with travel expenses for a round trip is about 3,000 baht per trip.
However, considering additional expenses, driving to China to refuel may only save Hong Kong residents a little. Crossing the border requires two vehicle license plates, regulated and approved under Hong Kong's Northern Travel Scheme, which imposes border crossing fees of about 1,000 baht. Calculated, residents save only about 1,000 baht but must undertake a long drive.
Meanwhile, some still choose to drive to China not only to refuel but also to buy food and essential goods priced lower there, making the trip more cost-effective.
At the same time, some Hong Kong residents are turning to electric vehicles (EVs) to save on costs and travel time for these long-distance trips.
,CNA