Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin

Situated west of the Shizimen waterway of Hengqin Island and connected to Macao by the cross-border Lotus Bridge, Hengqin Checkpoint is a national Category-1 port with innovative modes, convenient customs clearance, and complete facilities. It is also a window to promote the moderately diversified economic development of Macao and new platform for the in-depth cooperation among Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao. Adopting a "Joint Inspection & One-Time Release" mode, passengers only need to queue up and have documents examined once for border crossing between Zhuhai and Macao. The checkpoint is designed to process 80 million passengers annually.

The 106-sq-km (41-sq-mile) cooperation zone covers a customs-supervised area between the "first line" and "second line" of Hengqin Island. The "first-line" refers to Hengqin Island and the Macao Special Administrative Region, while the "second-line" refers to the area between Hengqin Island and other Chinese customs territories. Existing transport infrastructure within the "second-line" include the Hengqin Bridge, Hengqin Tunnel, Shenjing Channel, Hengqin Ferry Terminal, as well as Hengqin North, Hengqin, and Zhuhai Chimelong stations of the Guangzhou-Zhuhai Intercity MRT Extension Line. Construction of the proposed projects such as Shizimen Tunnel, Shenjing Station of the Guangzhou-Zhuhai Intercity MRT Extension Line, and Mangzhou Tunnel are underway.

The Declaration Hall for Macao Automobiles to Enter/Exit Hengqin is situated on the east end of Gang’ao Avenue. In-house agencies include Economic Development Bureau of the Executive Committee of the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, Hengqin Brigade of Traffic and Patrol Police, service counters of Hengqin Customs, and Hengqin Checkpoint Center for Driver Theory Test. Businesses including guidance service on declaration of Macao automobiles to enter/exit Hengqin, traffic police on-site examinations, issuance of Driver’s Manual for cross-border transport vehicles by the customs, and driver theory tests can be handled in the hall. Adopting the mode of “one access for acceptance”, applicants for Macao automobiles to enter/exit Hengqin can log on the application website (https://tgsq.hengqin.gov.cn/) or register on the “Macao Single-Plate Vehicle” mobile app to submit an application.

To implement the relevant policies and requirements of the State Council on establishing island-circling patrol and monitoring facilities instead of physical barriers to ensure effective supervision, Hengqin has developed a 53-km comprehensive management and control system of island-circling electronic fencing. Being the first high-efficiency real-time electronic fencing system in China, it features full coverage, all-weather, intelligent, and early warning. Multi-source heterogeneous devices such as videos, IoT, mobile communication, remote-sensing satellites, unmanned aerial vehicles, radars, and geographic information system are networked to form an intelligent and multilayered electronic fencing system with grand depth. The system plays an important role in the rapid and timely deterring, preventing, and cracking down of suspected smuggling and violations.