Hengqin New Area Administrative Committee Director Niu Jing said Thursday he believes that a measure allowing locally registered vehicles without mainland registration plates to enter Hengqin could possibly be in place before August.
Niu made the remark after attending a presentation held at Macau Tower, which was jointly organised by the governments of Macau and Guangdong to introduce policies for the recently established free trade zones in the neighbouring province.
Representatives from both governments included Chief Executive Fernando Chui Sai On and Zhao Yufang, a vice-governor of Guangdong.
Asked by reporters about Macau vehicles reportedly being allowed to enter Hengqin in August without mainland registration plates, Niu said he believed such a measure would possibly be in place even earlier.
“It may be earlier, I believe it maybe earlier…to allow Macau vehicles which only have local registration plates to enter Hengqin freely is a thing that must be done. Concerning the differences in regulations [regarding vehicles] how we come up with a safe and effective measure is very important. We are drafting a method to deal with it.” Nin said.
He also said that the Guangdong provincial government had consulted the Hengqin committee twice about the method, adding that it was still being improved.
“The method should ensure that Macau vehicles can enter Hengqin freely…however, Hengqin has limited space and its road network is small, and the border-crossing is also an issue that needs to be considered. Thus both governments will continue working together to hammer out the best method,” he said, adding that the Macau government had been consulted about the matter as well.
Hengqin covers 106 square kilometres, including one square kilometre leased by Macau for the new campus of the University of Macau (UM). Macau’s land area amounts to just 30.3 square kilometres. (macaunews/macaupost)
