Online Interview
Topic: Support for Hengqin New Area Opening-up and Development to Promote Guangdong's Economic Integration with Hong Kong and Macao SARs
Time:10:00 AM (Wed) March 26, 2014
Special Guests:Guests: Xiong Zhenguo, Deputy Director General of Gongbei Customs District; Wu Yirong, Director of Hengqin Customs House, Gongbei Customs District; Zhou Xiaolei, Deputy Director of the Processing-Trade Supervision Division, Gongbei Customs District;
Online Interview Photos
Support for Hengqin New Area Opening-up and Development to Promote Guangdong's Economic Integration with Hong Kong and Macao SARs
[Wang Hua]: Hello, netizens, welcome to China Customs Online Interview! I’m Wang Hua. Today we are at a special place where Chinese mainland, Hong Kong SAR and Macao SAR are connected through land bridges and where “two systems in one country” are intersected. It is also the last “virgin land” that has not yet been fully developed in the core area of the Pearl River Delta– it is Zhuhai Hengqin New Area. Now we are joined by Mr. Xiong Zhenguo, Deputy Director General of Gongbei Customs District, Mr. Wu Yirong, Director of Hengqin Customs House and Mr. Zhou Xiaolei, Deputy Director of Gongbei Customs. Welcome you all! 03/21/2014 10:02:52
[Xiong Zhenguo]: Hello and welcome to Zhuhai Hengqin New Area! I’m very glad to discuss this topic with net friends. 03/21/2014 10:03:09
[Wu Yirong]: Hello! 03/21/2014 10:03:21
[Zhou Xiaolei]: Hello! 03/21/2014 10:03:30
[Wang Hua]: As we talk about Hengqin, people in Guangdong Province, Hong Kong SAR and Macao SAR may know it well, but friends from other places may not be familiar with it. Mr. Xiong, would you please tell us some basic information about Hengqin New Area? 03/21/2014 10:03:45
[Xiong Zhenguo]: Just as you mentioned, Hengqin has very close relations with Hong Kong SAR and Macao SAR. It is situated in the south of Zhuhai City, on the west side of the Pearl River estuary, and separated from Macao SAR by the water. It is only three kilometers away from Macao Airport and 76 kilometers away from Hong Kong SAR. Hengqin Island, covering 106 square kilometers, is the biggest island in Zhuhai City, larger than three Macao in area. 03/21/2014 10:04:13
[Xiong Zhenguo]: In August 2009, the State Council approved the implementation of the Overall Plan for Hengqin Island Development. In December 2009, Hengqin New Area was established as the third national new area approved by the State Council following Shanghai Pudong New Area and Tianjin Binhai New Area. The development of Hengqin started in an all-around manner. 03/21/2014 10:05:06
[Xiong Zhenguo]: After years of construction, bridges, roads, water, electricity, gas, post services and ports are basically accessible to the public on the Island. Main roads including “two transverse roads, one longitudinal road, and one ring road” have been built up. Now the line-based management and the infrastructure construction for operation are nearing completion. 03/21/2014 10:05:26
[Wang Hua]: What are the differences between Hengqin New Area and generally special Customs-controlled areas?
[Xiong Zhenguo]: The Customs takes a series of customized supporting measures for Hengqin New Area and there are no such policies in general comprehensive bonded zones and export processing zones. For example, in Hengqin New Area, we first proposed the customs management mode of “relaxed supervision over the first line, effective control over the second line, separation between goods and people and classified management”. Here the “first line” refers to Hengqin Port of Lianhua Bridge and the “second line” refers to “the second-line passageway of Hengqin Bridge. “Relaxed supervision over the first line” means easing the supervision overtaxes and documents for goods appropriately. For example, goods related to production are bonded and exempted from duties, and imported goods under registration are exempted from quotas and licenses. “Effective control over the second line” means that goods under relaxed supervision at the first line should be controlled strictly and effectively at the second line. For example, when bonded or tax-free goods enter the mainland through the “first line” and are to be sold in the mainland through the “second line”, they should be subject to the customs declaration procedures for imported goods, duties as specified in relevant regulations, and verification of import quotas and licenses. 03/21/2014 10:07:11