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Emily Hung

When Macau residents Amy Leong and Danniel Ng embarked on a plan to relocate for retirement, they hit an unexpected hurdle: finding affordable moving services proved challenging because of the extra charges for customs clearance.
They had decided to move from the city, where they had lived for decades, to Hengqin, an island in neighbouring Zhuhai that is jointly managed by the Guangdong and Macau governments.
A residential project exclusively for city residents, the Macau New Neighbourhood, was rolled out last year.
The couple in their sixties bought a three-bedroom flat for about 3 million yuan (US$411,180), which they said was more expensive than other homes in Zhuhai, but still cheaper than in Macau.
“Hiring a mover is even more expensive than buying all [the furniture] over again from the mainland,” Leong said.
The couple decided to move their belongings using their own car, making multiple trips between Macau and Hengqin.
“It was quite a headache, we had to throw away many pieces of furniture that couldn’t fit in our car,” Leong said. “Why couldn’t the two governments sit down and work out a plan to help us move easier?”
Despite the co-governance model between Guangdong and Macau, some residents have been left frustrated by an apparent lack of integration.

Rita Leong, a 35-year-old housewife, is another who has encountered difficulties. She moved with her four-year-old child and husband in March this year. She said the moving cost per trip could be as high as 5,000 to 6,000 patacas (US$750), prompting the family to transfer furniture in more than 20 trips using their car.
Both families said they were largely happy with the living environment, especially the air quality, after moving in. But they hoped there would be more choices for groceries and faster immigration clearance for residents commuting to Macau for work.
The 106 sq km (40.9 square mile) island, three times the size of Macau, was established as the Guangdong-Macau In-depth Cooperation Zone in a bid to diversify the economy of the casino hub and improve residents’ livelihoods and employment opportunities.
Hengqin has become a hot topic after Chinese President Xi Jinping warned in a speech on Friday that projects there must be consistent with Beijing’s policy goals.
As Macau marked the 25th anniversary of its return to Chinese administration, the Post visited the Macau New Neighbourhood housing estate, which provides more than 4,000 flats priced between 2.4 million and 3.7 million yuan. About 1,400 homes have been bought since sales started in late 2023.
The quiet neighbourhood is about a 10-minute ride from the immigration checkpoint. Travelling from the casino district in Cotai to the port via the newly extended light rail transit took around 20 minutes, including waiting time.

There were basic facilities such as restaurants, a convenience store, a small supermarket and a public clinic, which does not offer blood tests, vaccinations or Pap test services.
Gina Choi, a 38-year-old Macau resident and the mother of a three-year-old child, has been living in Hengqin for three years, partly drawn by a reputable school there.
Hou Kong Middle School, popular among Macau parents, set up an affiliated school in Hengqin, offering kindergarten to high school education with an International Baccalaureate curriculum.
“The cost of living is more expensive than the rest of Zhuhai but cheaper than in Macau,” said Choi, who works in e-commerce.
“The location is quite convenient for us too. My husband works in Hengqin and I work in Taipa [in Macau]. For me, it is just a 15-minute ride … If I live in Taipa, the commuting time will be around the same because of traffic jams.”
But Choi said she hoped authorities could permit Macau-licensed vehicles to enter Guangdong province through Hengqin, so they could visit wholesale retail stores in mainland China to get supplies. For now, families such as hers must rely on the small supermarket nearby and online shopping.

While a special measure allows Macau-licensed vehicles to enter Hengqin, they can only access the rest of Guangdong through the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge, not directly through Hengqin Island.
Beijing earlier aimed to have 5,000 Macau residents working and 20,000 living in Hengqin by the end of 2024. The target was largely met as official figures showed that 5,000 worked and about 16,000 lived there as of the end of June this year.
Age restrictions on buying flats were removed last month, while owners were also allowed to sell their homes at any point, whereas previously a five-year moratorium was enforced. Some of the flats were also turned into dormitories for postgraduate students of the University of Macau this academic year.
Roy Ho Siu-hang, principal director of Centaline Macau Enterprise, said sales of the project were quite satisfactory.
He said many residents were attracted to the environment and lower cost of living, and enjoyed the added perks of being able to bring their pets and foreign domestic helpers, unlike the rest of the mainland.
Some chose to buy a home there simply because they had businesses in Zhuhai, Ho added.
“The population in Hengqin will surely grow in the long run, but more effort, such as preferential tax treatments and better integration of the two systems, are needed to speed up the process and hit the target,” he said.


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Macau residents tell of perks, problems of relocating to nearby Hengqin

Hong Kong public may get to see panda cubs in February, Ocean Park boss says

Macau

Macau resident Gina Choi and her three-year-old daughter at the Macau New Neighborhood project. Photo: Emily Hung

Danniel Ng and wife Amy Leong. Photo: Emily Hung

The project provides more than 4,000 flats. Photo: Emily Hung

A flat at the Macau New Neighbourhood. Photo: Emily Hung

How has Hengqin helped Macau diversify its casino-dominated economy?

Illustration: Henry Wong

An aerial view of Hengqin, in Zhuhai, Guangdong province, taken in August. Photo: Xinhua

Xi’s speech tasks Macau and Hong Kong with ‘one country, two systems’ mission

Chinese President Xi Jinping (front right), Macau Chief Executive Sam Hou-fai (front left) and first lady Peng Liyuan (back right) at the inauguration ceremony in Macau. Photo: Eugene Lee

Chinese President Xi Jinping (right) with Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee. Photo: Handout

Xi Jinping stresses projects in Hengqin zone must align with Beijing policies

The Macau Tower and Hengqing in the distance. Photo: Xinhua 

Chinese President Xi Jinping speaks at the inauguration ceremony for Macau’s new administration. Photo: Eugene Lee

China’s Xi urges Macau to increase exchanges with Portuguese-speaking world

Youths play football near the Macau Tower, with the Grand Lisboa casino in the background. Photo: Eugene Lee

President Xi Jinping and Macau Chief Executive Sam Hou-fai at the city leader’s inauguration ceremony. Photo: Eugene Lee

News

Hong Kong

Society

The Post visits island in Zhuhai to learn how new settlers are coping as Macau marks 25th anniversary of return to Chinese administration


The Post visits island in Zhuhai to learn how new settlers are coping as Macau marks 25th anniversary of return to Chinese administration.


Greater Bay Area

Zhuhai

Tourism

Xi Jinping