Entry to Hengqin of Macao-registered cars proposed from 20 December

The SAR Government is proposing to implement from 20 December a measure supported by the Central Government that enables Macao-registered vehicles to enter Hengqin Island in Zhuhai Prefecture. The new measure has been an ongoing topic of discussion between, respectively, the SAR Government, the Guangdong Provincial Government and the Zhuhai Municipal Government, via the established cooperation mechanisms for those authorities. The Office of the Secretary for Security represents the SAR Government in talks with the Zhuhai Municipal Government regarding matters related to the measure. They include: the formation of a plan for management of the scheme; implementation details; and eligibility criteria. At present, those two authorities are focusing on final discussions regarding the initiative. They concern: detailed planning for managing entry of Macao-registered vehicles to Hengqin; and arrangements for the launch ceremony of the initiative. The Macao authorities are additionally planning for the optimisation of facilities near the Lotus Flower Bridge Checkpoint, a structure that links Macao to Hengqin. That optimisation will occur following the implementation of the new measure. Recently, the Guangdong Provincial Government has passed a set of detailed measures for managing Macao-registered vehicles entering Hengqin Island. Premier of the State Council, Li Keqiang, has announced a total of 19 measures to boost further the development of Macao’s economy, including implementing – before year-end – the initiative to enable Macao-registered vehicles to enter Hengqin Island. Premier Li mentioned the measures while in Macao in October for the 5th Ministerial Conference of the Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Macao). The SAR Government is sincerely grateful for the support it has received from the Central Government, Guangdong Provincial Government and the Zhuhai Municipal Government regarding the promotion of Macao’s development.