SHENZHEN - Residents in Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions will be able to buy train tickets from vending machines at all high-speed rail stations in South China's Guangdong province before the end of the year.

Currently, Hong Kong and Macao residents generally have to buy tickets at ticket windows or pick up tickets at ticket windows after purchasing online.

Chen Xiaomei, deputy director of passenger traffic at Guangzhou Railway Group Corporation, said recently that Hong Kong and Macao residents with Chinese mainland travel permits were already able to buy tickets from vending machines at some major train stations in Guangdong.

By the end of this year, all train stations in Guangdong are expected to provide such services, said Chen.

Currently, 48 ticket vending machines in Shenzhen, neighbouring Hong Kong, provide the service. Another 35 will be open soon.