The integrated development of Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao was underscored at a Nov 16 Symposium to Propel High-Quality Development of the Construction Industry in the Greater Bay Area.

For instance, Qi Ji, president of the China Construction Industry Association urged the construction sectors of Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao to enhance cooperation based on complementary advantages in seeking quality development.

Conference host Zhuhai has contributed much to synergetic development with Hong Kong and Macao. In that regard, Zhuhai took the lead in the Greater Bay Area by passing laws last September to facilitate cross-border practice of Hong Kong and Macao construction staff in Hengqin New Area.

Over the past year, 24 Macao and five Hong Kong enterprises obtained registration certificates from the Hengqin Construction & Environment Protection Bureau, as have 87 Macao and 38 Hong Kong professionals. Some are already practicing in Hengqin.  

Symposium to Propel High-Quality Development of the Construction Industry in the Greater Bay Area [Photo courtesy Guanhai App]

The output value of the Zhuhai construction sector grew by 23.9 percent year-on-year to more than 98.6 billion yuan ($15 billion) in 2019, twice that of five years ago. The figure was 1.67 trillion yuan ($255 billion) in Guangdong, tops in the country.

Cai Ying, deputy head of the Department of Housing & Urban-Rural Development of Guangdong Province, said a synergetic mechanism would soon be established. Cai added that there would be collaborative projects in mainland cities, and matchmaking of high-end services such as building information modeling and entire-process engineering consultation with Hong Kong and Macao.

Danny Hung Cheung-shew, vice president of the Hong Kong Construction Association, proposed institutional support, cross-border talent exchanges, and pilot projects as directions for future efforts.

Especially, he suggested that the Qianhai, Nansha, and Hengqin free trade zones pilot engineering projects to advance all-around in-depth integration of the Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao construction sectors.

Leong Iam Chong, president of the Macau Construction Association, said a group of architectural designers in Macao offers mature Portuguese design style. The connection between Macao and Portuguese-speaking countries, he said, can be leveraged in the integrated development and "going out" of the Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao construction sectors.

In addition, he called upon more enterprises in the Chinese mainland to develop modern prefabricated buildings in Macao, which may be trending in any event due to the shortage of construction workers in Macao.