Chui Sai Peng argues for underground urban planning

The urban planning in Shenzhen’s Qianhai, which forms part of the Guangdong free trade zone, could serve as a model to Macau as the cooperation zone utilizes underground space. This use of space would enable Macau to improve its future population capacity to 650,000 from the current 150,000. Chui Sai Peng, as one of the members of the city’s delegation to the National People Congress, on a visit to the mainland area on Monday, urged the local government to use it as a point of reference in developing its new reclamation areas. According to the official, the cooperation zone’s underground space spans a total area of 800 square meters. The spacious environment could be used to construct subways, shopping malls and parking lots. In addition to this, underground pipeline networks installed beneath Qianhai have met citizens’ basic needs, including those relating to water, power and natural gas, added Chui. To overcome local land restrictions, he voiced his belief that the city had to be further developed underground.