Gongbei Customs District has been taking solid measures to implement the state decisions for boosting the development of Macao through the building of Hengqin Free Trade Zone (in Zhuhai City) and Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

In building the FTZ, which was described by Chinese President Xi Jinping as a promoter for the “appropriately diversified” Macao economy, Gongbei Customs replicated and promoted 94 innovative regulations, such as measures for easier inspections on Macao single-plate vehicles in and out of Hengqin and for stronger logistics cooperation (sellers located in Macao while warehouses located in Zhuhai).

When the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) was opened last year, Gongbei Customs has accomplished 204 relevant customs tasks and put the HZMB port into operation. The Customs is following up The Memorandum on Cooperative and Mutually Assisted Programs on the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Port among GACC, Hong Kong Customs and Macao Customs (hereinafter referred to as the Memorandum), which enables information sharing, mutual assistance in customs enforcement, clearance facilitation, and combined health checks on passengers between Zhuhai and Macao.

Following the issuance of the Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area on February 18, Gongbei Customs is focusing on the following areas:

Improve and innovate in customs control and services at Hengqin port, which is being built as a platform for in-depth Guangdong-Macao cooperation. The Customs is now combining inspections, advancing health checks, and sharing information and equipment between Zhuhai and Macao to enhance the flow of passengers and goods into and out of Hengqin Island. The Customs has integrated inspections on Hengqin Free Trade Zone and Zhuhai Bonded Area, innovated in inspection and verification models of CCC products, cooperated with Macao Customs on inspections of Macao-oriented agri-food products, and advanced Macao inspections on inland supplies to the producing or assembling places in this Customs District.

Deepen Guangdong-Macao Customs cooperation for clearance facilitation. Regular meetings have been held between the two Customs. The sharing of large container inspection machines (H986), image sharing, mutual recognition of results, and online certificate verification for supplies to Macao have been achieved. The quarantine for Macao-oriented seedling and flower supplies is advanced. The communication mechanism among Zhuhai, Hong Kong and Macao Customs has been improved in line with the Memorandum. We are helping improve Guangdong-Macao port infrastructure and innovate in the inspection systems by supporting the movement of Lianhua Port in Macao and the start of Qingmao Customs House.

Facilitate clearance of goods into and out of Macao. The Customs plays an active role in upgrading Macao CEPA agreement and implementing the Memorandum on Managing Countries of Origin of Transit Goods through Macao based on Free Trade Agreements between GACC and Macao Customs, and facilitates Macao’s imports and  logistics. The Customs has innovated in the model of customs control on exhibitions through an approach of “registration first and inspection later” and services such as On-Site Inspection, Appointment-based Clearance and Special Channels. The Customs has shortened approval process on special items, facilitated the entry of special bio-medical items through Hengqin Port, and supported Guangdong-Macao Industrial Park on Traditional Chinese Medicine. The Customs is advancing quarantine for Macao CEPA food, helping enable Macao to become a distributing center in Portuguese-speaking countries. The Customs is also encouraging Hengqin to develop cross-border e-commerce with Portuguese-speaking countries in support of Macao’s efforts to make a key place for China-Portugal and China-Latin America cooperation.