Hengqin authorities are making plans to launch new ferry services to connect the island with the Inner Harbour district of Macau.
According to public broadcaster TDM, the proposal for sailings to and from Macau primarily involves the financial district of the neighbouring island in a bid to boost interconnectivity between the two regions.
Hengqin’s Urban Planning and Construction Bureau said that technical testing is currently underway to determine the feasibility of the plan.
The plan, currently in its preliminary stage without a set timetable, is being overseen by Wong Wan, Macau’s former transport chief, who is now responsible for urban planning in Hengqin.
Since the establishment of the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone about two years ago, transport connectivity between the two regions has been ramping up.
The new ferry routes are expected to add convenience to the existing transport mode between Macau and Hengqin, which has largely been land-based for now.
Several initiatives have been rolled out to facilitate cross-border travel, such as the introduction of 14 point-to-point commute lines, and unmanned public transport.
In addition, construction work on a passage connecting the University of Macau with the Hengqin checkpoint was complete in July, with its opening depending on the progress of the second phase of an upgrade project for the checkpoint – originally slated to conclude last month.
