KEY projects and advantages of one of the most vibrant new development spots in China – Hengqin Island – were touted to a hundred news people on Journalists Day, which falls annually on November 8.
Five projects costing a combined 76 billion yuan ($10.25 billion) are: a 6 billion yuan ($878.5 million) campus of the University of Macao, for which the cornerstone will be laid on December 20; the Shizimen Central Business District (CBD), to have total investment of 38 billion yuan ($5.56 billion) in five to ten years; the 10 billion yuan ($1.46 billion) Chime-Long International Ocean Resort under construction since last June with annual capacity of 10 million to 15 million visitors; the municipal infrastructure (BT) project costing 10 billion yuan ($1.46 billion); and the 12 billion yuan ($1.76 billion) multiple combined supply gas-engine generator project by China Power Investment Corp.
The journalists also were briefed on the breathtaking metamorphosis of the island:
In December 2008, the State Council “Outline of the Plan for Reform & Development of the Pearl River Delta” called for “planned construction of co-operative regions such as the Zhuhai Hengqin New Area, which would strengthen co-operation with Hong Kong and Macao in service and high-tech industries.”
In June 2009, the State Council approved in principle at an executive meeting the “Hengqin Overall Development Plan,” and declared intent to make Hengqin a demonstration area of close co-operation between Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao. The island would lead development and other advances in the Pearl River Delta in a role of service to Hong Kong and Macao.
Also in June 2009, the National People’s Congress Standing Committee granted the Macao Special Administrative Region jurisdiction over the site of the new UM campus on Hengqin.
In August 2009, the State Council acknowledged the Overall Development Plan of Hengqin and its goals of demonstration, co-operation, reform and innovation, and added a platform to promote industrial modernization of the Pearl River estuary under the “One Country, Two Systems” policy.
In merely two months, three national resolutions have placed Hengqin, dormant until recently, at an historical starting point. Themed at co-operation, innovation and service, Hengqin is to become a demonstration zone for exploring innovative regional co-operation, a pilot for deepening reform, opening-up and technical innovation, and a platform for promoting industrial upgrades in western-bank areas of the Pearl River Estuary.
In August 2009, a conference addressing the institutional organization and official incumbency for the Hengqin New Area was held on the island. This essentially established the organizational structure and staff at all levels. On August 17, ten newly selected leaders of the area took their posts in Hengqin.
Gan Lin, secretary of the CPC Municipal Committee, has set a timetable for Hengqin’s development: visible change in one year, achievements in three years and significant changes in five years.
Hengqin New Area boasts four advantages -- location, policy, development and ecology, Liu Jia, one of the ten leaders, noted.
Located at the focal point of “one country, two systems” with radial effects to both inside and outside the country, Hengqin New Area will have access to the national, Hong Kong and Macao transportation networks and serve as the premiere location to access the high-end service industries of Hong Kong and Macao.
Moreover, being the country’s third state-level strategic new area, after Pudong in Shanghai and Binhai in Tianjin, Hengqin will enjoy more preferential policies and more autonomy in regional economic co-operation, customs clearance system and industrial development.
Besides, with an abundance of land resources and major projects to drive future development, Hengqin New Area can boost higher-level and deeper win-win co-operation between Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao.
Furthermore, a well-preserved marine, forest and wetland ecosystems will greatly contribute to the development of tourism.
Hengqin is to be an “intelligent island” both knowledge-intensive and information-driven, an “open island” collaboratively linking Hong Kong and Macao, an “eco-island” balancing resources with the environment, and an “energetic island” of suitable living and prosperous business in 10 to 15 years, Liu explained.
The journalists, both national and regional (for example, Xinhua News Agency, Guangming Daily, China National Radio, Hong Kong Wen Wei Po and Macao Daily Times), asked many follow-up questions, expressed excitement about the prospects for the island and then returned to their respective offices to spread the news.
(ZD News)
Lovely UM campus visualised
The new University of Macao campus will be people-oriented, sustainable, modern, IT-based and garden-style, its chief architect, He Jingtang and his team from the Chinese Academy of Engineering, told the academic-environment community members on November 5.
The occasion was a university-wide consultation on the master plan of the new campus, according to the UM website.
The campus environment will be conducive to whole-person education and characterized by a blend of Chinese and western styles. Thusly, it will reflect four striking characteristics, namely a blend of Chinese and western cultural elements, a combination of mountain and sea views, a reflection of the cultural characteristics of Southern China, and a South European architectural style.
The aim is to create an efficient, eco-friendly campus with a liberal, comfortable, and culturally rich environment to encourage inter-personal interaction and enable UM to better fulfill its missions. A residential college system will be introduced to enhance undergraduate education. Residential and faculty buildings will be ideally located and interconnected to facilitate cross-faculty interaction, according to the plan.
