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]: It’s really not easy to make such achievement. As far as I know, the building of new UM campus started from December 2009 and it was delivered to the government of Macao SAR for use last July. It was completed in less than three years. 03/21/2014 10:37:45
[Xiong Zhenguo]: Yes. The completed new UM campus covers about one km2of land with a construction area of 945,000 m2, 20 times larger than the area of the current UM campus. It can accommodate 15,000 students according to the plan. 03/21/2014 10:38:24
[Wang Hua]: From this project, we can see that the Customs support not only the opening-up and development of Hengqin New Area but also the development of Macao SAR. 03/21/2014 10:38:39
[Xiong Zhenguo]: Yes. A more prominent example is that more than 80% of fresh goods and more than 90% of water and electricity in Macao SAR are imported through Gongbei Customs. 03/21/2014 10:39:01
[Wang Hua]: Such high proportions are imported through Gongbei Customs District. So the customs supervision will have direct impacts on the livelihood in Macao SAR. It’s also a big test for the Customs. How can the Customs guarantee the timely supply of those key goods to Macao SAR? 03/21/2014 10:39:34
[Xiong Zhenguo]: In order to ensure the stable supply for markets in Macao SAR and its needs for livelihood development, the Customs take customized measures for clearance facilitation such as centralized declaration and door-to-door inspection and release as to the export business of special goods supply of water, electricity and gas to Macao SAR. Priority has been given to the document examination, inspection, verification and release related to fresh and live goods. The Customs have also established a 24-hour on-duty system for booking services and releases goods as they arrive to ensure “the zero retention” of fresh and live products for Hong Kong SAR and Macao SAR at customs. 03/21/2014 10:40:04
[Xiong Zhenguo]: In 2013, Gongbei Customs inspected and released 140,000 tons of fresh and live products, more than 4 billion kWh of power and more than 86 million tons of raw water supplied to Macao SAR, which means that more than 230 kg of fresh and live products, more than 6,700 kWh of power and more than 140 tons of water are inspected and released for every Macao citizen in a year. In addition, Gongbei Customs is also responsible for supervising the natural gas pipeline to Macao SAR from the mainland of China. Since 2013, 772,000 Nm3 of natural gas in total is inspected and released to Macao SAR. Now the daily natural gas supplied to Macao SAR is about 3,000 Nm3, mainly to satisfy demands of residents in Macao and the new UM campus. 03/21/2014 10:40:21
[Wang Hua]: That’s to say, daily foodstuff and most of articles for daily use of residents in Macao SAR are inspected and released through Gongbei Customs. 03/21/2014 10:40:36
[Xiong Zhenguo]: Yes. For example, Gongbei Port is the main passageway to supply fresh and live products for Macao SAR. From 7 o’clock every morning, customs officials at the gates offer timely supervision services of customs clearance. Everyday more than 60 enterprises, hundreds of vehicles and nearly 500 tons of fresh and live products from all parts of China gather in the port. 03/21/2014 10:40:51
[Xiong Zhenguo]: One more example: Zhuhai Wanchai is the main base to export flowers to Macao SAR from the mainland of China. Everyday flower growers carry flowers and take small boats to sell flowers in Macao SAR. The Customs handle special cases in special manners and conduct rapid inspection and release at 6:30 every morning for year around to ensure the timely and adequate supply of flowers in Macao SAR. In 2013, 187 tons of flowers are inspected and released to Macao SAR, increasing by 6.5% year on year. 03/21/2014 10:41:10