The areas under Macau SAR jurisdiction in the new Hengqin Border Checkpoint were officially handed to the local government at midnight of today, but with authorities stating that for now citizens and tourists should continue to use the Lotus Flower Bridge Border Post.
Customs indicated to Macau News Agency that preparations were still needed at the checkpoint post and that the Macau SAR govenrment would still announce the effective opening of the border for business.
Until then residents and tourists should continue to use the Lotus Flower Border Post for entry and exit in Hengqin.
According to a government announcement, works will be carried out to improve and inspect the facilities and equipment of the new border building and its roadways, with security authorities to cooperate with the competent services in Zhuhai to carry out the inspection and adjustment of border crossing equipment, as well as border crossing pressure tests and electricity tests.
‘They will also carry out various types of simulations, with a view to guaranteeing safety, smooth operation and high operational efficiency, after the official opening of the integrated border inspection model at the Hengqin Border Post,’ the local government said today.
The 66,428 square meters area handed to the Macau govenrment today is included in the first phase of the new border project and includes the passenger inspection building, the evacuation platform for entrances and exits and the main bridge of the Lotus Flower Bridge, which was previously under the purview of Zhuhai authorities.
The second phase will cover the permanent cargo and passenger vehicle passages, as well as the passenger inspection room for vehicles crossing the border and the future bridge connecting it to the University of Macau, which should be completed at the end of 2021.
The third stage includes the area reserved for the extension of the Macau Light Rapid Transit to the Hengqin Border Post, with the line to be connected to the Zhuhai rapid transit system in the future.
On March 16 a law establishing the fundamental rules for the application of the Macau SAR law in the Henqgin Border Post Zone and its contiguous areas was approved at the Legislative Assembly (AL) with a handover ceremony held at midnight today.
Following the handover ceremony, personnel from Customs, the Public Security Police Force (CPSP), the Fire Department and the Judiciary Police were deployed to carry out security control tasks under the law.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by local representatives from the Office of the Secretary for Security, the Customs, the Directorate of Security Services, the Public Security Police Force, the Fire Department and the Institute for Municipal Affairs, Land, Public Works and Transport Bureau, Health Bureau and the Transport Bureau.
Meanwhile, representatives from the Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau Affairs Office of Zhuhai City, the Hengqin New Zone Management Council in Zhuhai, the Hengqin New Zone Commerce Department, 2nd Sub-brigade of the Armed Police Force, Hengqin Customs Service and Hengqin Border Inspection also attended.
