The government has collected 126 opinions from residents on Macau’s participation in the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area, the Policy Research Office (GEP) said in a statement on Thursday.
The local government was collecting residents’ opinions on how Macau should participate in the development of the Greater Bay Area (GBA), from June 13 until Wednesday.
In a press conference on June 13, the government said that the two-week opinion collection period aimed to encourage citizens to become involved in the city’s participation in the GBA development.
According to the statement, the Policy Research Office received the 126 opinions in written submissions, emails, telephone calls, as well as in messages posted on the dedicated website.
In addition, representatives from more than 120 associations and organisations visited the Policy Research Office to express their opinions during meetings with GEP officials, according to the statement.
Premier Li Keqiang’s government work report to the opening session of the National People’s Congress (NPC) in Beijing on March 5 mentioned the central government’s plan to develop a “city cluster in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area”.
The GBA will consist of Hong Kong, Macau and nine Guangdong cities, namely Dongguan, Foshan, Guangzhou, Huizhou, Jiangmen, Shenzhen, Zhaoqing, Zhongshan, and Zhuhai.
The government also said during the press conference on June 13 that the central government is now drafting a plan about the GBA development.
According to Hong Kong news reports, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), in close coordination with Hong Kong, Macau and Guangdong, aims to finish drafting the GBA development plan by the end of this year.
