LRT to connect with Hengqin checkpoint, high-speed rail as cross-border network expands

[Photo: Melissandre Denize]

Macau will tackle land issues in old districts through urban renewal while expanding a cross-border transport network linking the Light Rapid Transit (LRT) to the Hengqin checkpoint and high-speed rail, with further rail and road links under study.

According to Xinhua, Secretary for Transport and Public Works Raymond Tam recently outlined the key transport and infrastructure priorities in Macau’s Third Five-Year Plan, setting out the government’s vision for cross-border transport, urban renewal, and land use over the next five years.

Tam said the overarching strategy for the transport portfolio would be to make rail the backbone, road the mainstay, and water transport a supplement, with the goal of building a multi-layered cross-border transport network to support the integrated development of Macau and Hengqin.

On rail connectivity, Tam revealed that the city’s LRT system would be seamlessly linked to the Hengqin checkpoint, in coordination with the Guangzhou-Zhuhai (Macau) high-speed rail project. Authorities would also study the possibility of connecting the Macau LRT with Hengqin’s existing rail network.

On road links, the capacity of the Lotus Bridge and the University of Macau (UM) river tunnel would be enhanced, while preliminary site selection studies would be carried out for a new cross-border passage between Hengqin Financial Island and Macau.

The Hengqin pre-cargo facility was identified as a key project under the transport portfolio. Tam said the facility was designed to create a high-value, high-efficiency aviation logistics chain, enabling Macau to better serve the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area and marking an important step in Macau’s integration into the national development strategy.

On urban renewal, Tam stressed that the effort was not only about improving the city’s image but also a key livelihood issue that affects residents’ quality of life and community safety. Over the next five years, Macau would pursue building renovations, old district revitalization, and area-based or single-building redevelopment at multiple levels. To address the structural challenges of fragmented property ownership and small land plots in old districts, the government would gradually seek breakthroughs through legal reforms and resource coordination.

On land scarcity, Tam said the government was adopting a model combining planned and temporary use, making flexible use of available land while advancing major construction projects. He revealed that the transport team had recently visited the mainland to study urban renewal projects, and that the experience gained could provide useful references for Macau’s own redevelopment efforts.

On daily commuting, Tam reaffirmed the government’s commitment to “public transport priority,” with a focus on improving the rail, pedestrian, and road networks, alongside smart traffic management. The LRT East Line is expected to be completed in 2029 and would later be extended to the Qingmao checkpoint area, while studies on the West Line and South Line would also commence. The long-term goal is to form a circular rail network around the Macau peninsula.

Tam also said the government would revamp the public bus management system, adjust service arrangements, and improve the efficiency of traffic management and emergency response. Real-time traffic information would be disseminated through mobile applications and new-style bus shelters, while transport data sharing between Macau and Hengqin would be further strengthened to provide more convenient cross-border travel services for residents.

Following the release of the region’s Third Five-Year Plan for economic and social development, the Secretaries for Security, Administration and Justice, and Social Affairs and Culture also gave separate interviews to the media, offering in-depth interpretations of their respective policy priorities.

Strengthening national security foundations

Secretary for Security Chan Tsz King said safeguarding national security was the top priority, with the plan placing the “full implementation of the holistic approach to national security” as the first of eight development goals. His portfolio would further improve institutional mechanisms for national security, advance legislation on money laundering, counter-terrorism, and associations. To address new challenges such as cross-border data flows and AI-powered deepfakes, authorities would introduce technologies including AI smart glasses for Customs and enhance capabilities in cyber, data, and AI security, while deepening regional police cooperation and firmly opposing external interference in Macau’s affairs.

Driving ‘reform with innovative thinking’

Secretary for Administration and Justice Wong Sio Chak said public administration reform was a central pillar of the plan, essential for improving governance effectiveness. Challenges remain, including institutional inertia, overlapping functions, and weak cross-departmental coordination. He stressed the need to modernize personnel management and refine public services, while upholding the executive-led principle enshrined in the Basic Law. The government would strengthen positive interaction between the executive, legislative, and judicial branches, modernize the legal system, and deepen Macau-Hengqin rule alignment and mechanism connectivity.

Building an international tourism and culture zone

Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture O Lam said the Macau International Integrated Tourism and Culture Zone was one of the government’s four major projects, featuring three core facilities – the National Museum of Culture, the International Performing Arts Centre, and the Museum of Contemporary Art – forming Macau’s first large-scale cultural cluster. Meanwhile, the first phase of the Macau-Hengqin International Education (University) Town had begun operations, with over 1,400 postgraduate students enrolled.

The government would support partnerships between Macau’s higher education institutions and internationally renowned universities through dual-degree and joint training programs in Hengqin, creating a virtuous cycle of education, technology, and talent, and positioning Macau-Hengqin as a key engine for the Greater Bay Area.