Hengqin’s director says more land could be made available to Macau

Niu Jing

 The director-general of the Hengqin New Area Administrative Committee, Niu Jing, pledges that the park is not the only place Zhuhai has prepared within the scope of Guangdong-Macau cooperation. Niu Jing disclosed this information during yesterday’s Guangdong-Macau Industrial Cooperation Park meeting of 2016.

“I have been saying that for years, that regarding Hengqin’s lands, besides the park there are other lands prepared for Macau’s projects,” said Niu.

Sixteen of the first 33 investment projects of the Macau government, in 2014, with respect to Hengqin, specifically in the Guangdong-Macau Industrial Cooperation Park, have already been assigned lands in the Hengqin area. In fact, 12 of them have already initiated construction works, and are expected to be completed in two years.

Currently, there are five square kilometers of land in Hengqin which are specifically prepared for the park to operate projects jointly organized by Macau and by Guangdong Province.

Niu said that there are commercial buildings already built in Hengqin, not located in the park, which belong to Macau. The director-general said that the Hengqin government authority is currently holding discussions on several projects which will be located outside the park.

“As long as the projects are good, and as long as they can have the effect of pushing forward the diversification of Macau’s industry, we are willing to provide land and resources,” said Niu.

Niu also said that Hengqin is looking for high-end projects, considering that such projects can “save the land and be responsible to Macau.”

“If Macau’s projects need big pieces of land, we will supply them,” said Niu.

The director-general also voiced his opinion that Macau does not need to worry about having no lands in Hengqin, but should be concerned about spending enough time thinking about its projects.

“Everyone should spend more time thinking about how to make their projects run well, instead of thinking whether the land is still there. The lands will be there, for sure,” guaranteed Niu.

According to Niu, until the end of October of this year, 669 out of the 25,235 registered enterprises in Hengqin are Macau companies, representing an increase of 102.11 percent year on year.

Another aspect revealed to the media by the Hengqin head concerns the topic of Macau’s single-plated car entering Hengqin. Niu stated, “of course,” when asked whether the policy will be announced this year.

“The Prime Minister has already confirmed. We are all compelling [him] to push forward the work,” said Niu.

On November 17, Guangdong’s Party Standing Committee organized a meeting to discuss the topic.

“We are closely discussing it with the Macau government. We must fulfill Prime Minister Li Keqiang’s promise made in Macau,” said Niu.

Currently, both governments are working on the last stage of the projects, according to Niu. Julie Zhu