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Ⅰ. The Macro-environment of the GBA

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the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin” have been introduced to further promote the
regulatory interface and mechanism connectivity between Hengqin and Macao, and inject strong impetus into
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the development of the Cooperation Zone. According to the Overall Development Plan for the Guangdong-
Macao Zone in Hengqin issued by the NDRC on December 21, 2023 with the approval of The State Council, the
integrated development system and mechanism of Hengqin and Macao will be improved, the flow of factors in

Hengqin and Macao will be free and convenient, and about 80,000 Macao residents will work in the Cooperation
Zone, and about 120,000 Macao residents will live there. The “four new” industries strongly support the

diversified development of Macao’s industries, and the strategic goal of the Cooperation Zone to promote the
moderately diversified development of Macao’s economy has been basically achieved. 20

1.2.2 “Bay Area Connection” project promotes regulatory interface and mechanism
connectivity for economic operation in the three regions

In the GBA, the “Bay Area Connection” project is steadily moving forward. The super project crosses

the seas and oceans, connecting the city agglomeration on the east and west sides of the Pearl River Estuary.
The expansion of airports and construction of world-class airport clusters in the GBA have attracted much

attention, and there is mutual recognition of data resources such as the Bay Area Access and the GBA identity
authentication. The flow of production factors and personnel in the GBA is becoming increasingly convenient

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th
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through “hard connectivity” and “soft connectivity”. The 7 Plenary Session of the 12 Guangdong Provincial
Party Committee proposed to take the “Bay Area Connection” project as the starting point, focusing on the
overall situation and selecting the right cut, to actively take action and take lead in breaking through livelihood
issues concerned by the people such as transportation, communication, and food safety, and continuously make

substantial progress in promoting the integration of rules among the three regions. The introduction of measures
to improve people’s livelihoods through interconnectivity in the GBA has deepened the integration of rules and

18 CS attends press conference on topic of developments of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao GBA, Information Services Department of
the Government of the HKSAR (December 28. 2023),
https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202312/28/P2023122800297.htm?fontSize=2
19 The State Council Information Office held a press conference about the status of the GBA development, the State Council Information
Office website, (December 28, 2023), https://www.gov.cn/lianbo/fabu/202312/content_6923316.htm
20 Overall Development Plan for the Guangdong-Macao In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin released, Xinhua News Agency,
(December 21, 2023), https://www.gov.cn/lianbo/bumen/202312/content_6921762.htm
21 Accelerating” hardware connectivity” and “software connectivity” in the GBA, Chinese government website (August 19, 2021),
https://www.gov.cn/xinwen/2021-08/19/content_5632257.htm

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