On January 23, the Information Office of the Guangdong Provincial People's Government held a press conference to release 16 typical cases regarding mechanism and rule alignment in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA).

They cover topics such as the cross-border flow of factors, the business environment, the integration of people's livelihoods, and major platform development. To date, Guangdong has released three batches with 52 typical cases.

These innovative measures have promoted the flow of people and goods. Starting from July 10, 2024, non-Chinese permanent residents of Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions can apply for the Mainland Travel Permit, allowing them to travel to the mainland multiple times within five years, with each stay lasting up to 90 days. As of now, over 70,000 people have made appointments to apply.

Cross-border transportation cards have been integrated into the mainland's national transportation network, allowing for seamless use of public transportation, including buses and subways, across over 300 cities in the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, and Macao.

Customs authorities in Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao have introduced a unified smart security lock for managing cross-border vehicles, enabling quick clearance at all checkpoints. Estimates suggest this initiative could reduce logistics costs by about 28% and shorten customs clearance times by around 30%. The model covers 74 clearance points in the Chinese mainland, 13 in Hong Kong, and 4 in Macao.

The GBA has also worked to create a more internationalized business environment. By November 2024, the legal departments of Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao had registered 146 mediators, including 97 from Hong Kong and Macao, to assist with commercial mediation.

Guangdong has registered 90 commercial mediation organizations as private non-enterprise units, with over 2,500 mediators, including more than 700 mediators handling foreign-related commercial disputes.

Efforts to accelerate social integration have also facilitated exchanges among residents of the GBA. The 2024 Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Road Cycling Race was successfully held, with joint organization, fast-track customs clearance, and harmonized rules across the three regions. The race attracted 23 teams and 67 athletes from the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, and Macao.

Innovations have also been made to address difficulties faced by Hong Kong and Macao residents in purchasing property in mainland cities of the GBA. As of November 2024, the Guangdong Branch of the People's Bank of China had handled 2,094 property purchase transactions for Hong Kong and Macao residents, amounting to 2.331 billion yuan.

Major platform development has been accelerated in regions like the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, the Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone of Shenzhen, the Nansha District of Guangzhou, and the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone.

In March 2024, Hengqin designated the boundary between Hengqin and Macao as the "first line" and the boundary between Hengqin and the rest of the mainland as the "second line." Approximately 60,000 tons of goods valued at over $39.6 million were imported via the Hengqin Port on the "first line."

In September 2024, Hengqin School Affiliated to Haojiang Middle School opened its doors to 256 students from Macao as part of the "Macao New Neighborhood" in the Hengqin comprehensive community project.

Hetao has accelerated efforts to establish mechanisms linking Hong Kong's research management system. Nansha has been collaborating with Hong Kong and Macao to develop a comprehensive service base for Chinese enterprises going global.

Reporter |  Dai Bosi

Cover |  Nanfang Plus

Editor | Hu Nan, James, Shen He