The Standing Committee of the 13th National People's Congress intends to allow Macao to move its Lotus Port to the new Hengqin Checkpoint. A draft concerning the plan was reviewed at the committee's 14th Meeting on Oct 22.

Currently, Lotus Checkpoint in Cotai is only a short way from Hengqin Checkpoint in Zhuhai. However, separate customs clearance takes much time and causes inconvenience. And, travelers must take shuttle buses over the Lotus Bridge.

Last August, the Macao government proposed moving Lotus Checkpoint to the new Hengqin Checkpoint and adopting a "Joint Inspection & One-time Release" custom clearance mode after negotiating with the Guangdong and Zhuhai governments. 

Lotus Bridge and new Hengqin Checkpoint under construction [Photo by Li Jianshu / Zhuhai Daily]

The move will enhance infrastructure connectivity between two places, facilitate the flow of people, goods and other factors of production, and better integrate Macao into China's overall development.

The State Council approved the request in October 2018. Deng Zhonghua, deputy director of the Hong Kong & Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, presented the draft at the meeting on Oct 21.

Concretely, jurisdiction is to be conferred to Macao at the part of Hengqin Checkpoint where the Lotus Bridge and University of Macau connect to the Hengqin Checkpoint Channel Bridge (except the piers), as well as the reserved space for the extension of Macao Light Rail Transit to Hengqin Checkpoint.

Macao's right to use the abovementioned areas will be obtained by lease, with a term starting from day operations commence and running until Dec 19, 2049. The lease may be renewed by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, according to Deng.