China authorizes jurisdiction of Macao's port zone at Hengqin port to Macao SAR

BEIJING - China's top legislature on Saturday voted to adopt a decision on authorizing the jurisdiction of Macao's port zone at Hengqin port and extended areas in Guangdong Province to the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR).

The draft of the decision was reviewed at the bimonthly session of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress that ran from Monday to Saturday.

In order to enhance the connection of infrastructure between Macao SAR and the city of Zhuhai in Guangdong and make the transportation, exchanges and trade between the places more convenient, it is necessary to set up Macao's port zone at Hengqin port, said the lawmakers.

Macao SAR will administer the port zone and extended areas from the day they are put into use in accordance with the laws of the SAR, according to the decision.

The decision expounds on the range of the aforementioned extended areas and notes that the Macao SAR will possess the right to utilize Macao's port zone at Hengqin port and extended areas on lease until Dec 19, 2049. The lease can be extended with the decision of the NPC Standing Committee.