To advance the construction of the Hengqin Guangdong-Macao In-depth Cooperation Zone, promote the balanced and diversified development of Macao’s economy, and enrich the practice of the "One Country, Two Systems" framework, Guangdong Province has formulated the "Regulations on Promoting the Development of the Hengqin Guangdong-Macao In-depth Cooperation Zone," based on the "Overall Plan for the Construction of the Hengqin Guangdong-Macao In-depth Cooperation Zone" as well as relevant laws and administrative regulations. These regulations were officially announced via the official WeChat account of the National Development and Reform Commission.

Article 32 explicitly states: "Support the development of the greater health industry in the cooperation zone, including leisure and wellness, rehabilitation medicine, health management, and high-end medical services." Support the research and development and application of cutting-edge medical technologies, and encourage qualified medical institutions within the cooperation zone to initiate clinical research projects involving stem cells and somatic cells—after obtaining approval and registration from relevant national authorities. Additionally, support medical institutions in the cooperation zone to strengthen collaboration and knowledge exchange with mainland Chinese or Hong Kong/Macau healthcare facilities that are already legally engaged in clinical studies of stem cells, somatic cells, and other advanced therapies, thereby enhancing their clinical research capabilities and expertise.

This regulation was adopted at the 48th Meeting of the Standing Committee of the 13th Guangdong Provincial People's Congress on January 9, 2023, and will come into effect on March 1, 2023.

Regulations on Promoting the Development of the Hengqin Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone

(Adopted at the 48th Meeting of the Standing Committee of the 13th Guangdong Provincial People's Congress on January 9, 2023)

Chapter 1 General Provisions

Article 1: To promote the development of the Hengqin Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone (hereinafter referred to as the "Cooperation Zone"), foster the moderate economic diversification of Macao, and enrich the practice of the "One Country, Two Systems" principle, these Regulations are formulated in accordance with the *Overall Plan for the Construction of the Hengqin Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone* (hereinafter referred to as the "Overall Plan") and relevant laws and administrative regulations.

Article 2: This regulation applies to activities such as the promotion of cooperation zone construction and development.

The scope of this regulation covers the customs supervision areas between the "first line" and "second line" on Hengqin Island, as defined in the Overall Plan, but excludes the University of Macau’s Hengqin Campus and the Macao jurisdiction area at the Hengqin Port. The area between Hengqin and Macao is designated as the "first line," while the area separating Hengqin from other regions within China’s customs territory (hereinafter referred to as the "mainland") is classified as the "second line."

Article 3: The construction of the Cooperation Zone shall adhere to the principles of emancipating the mind, promoting reform and innovation, pursuing mutually beneficial cooperation, and fostering openness and inclusiveness. It aims to develop new industries that drive Macao’s economy toward moderate diversification, create a fresh living and employment environment that benefits Macao residents, establish a high-level, integrated, and open system aligned with Macao, and refine a new governance framework for joint consultation, co-building, co-management, and shared benefits between Guangdong and Macao. Ultimately, this initiative seeks to advance Macao’s long-term prosperity and stability while enhancing its seamless integration into the broader national development agenda.

Article 4: The People's Government of Guangdong Province and its relevant departments, as well as the People's Government of Zhuhai City and its related departments, shall, based on the actual needs of the cooperation zone's development and construction, legally authorize or delegate relevant provincial and municipal administrative powers to the institutions operating within the cooperation zone.

The Guangdong Provincial People's Government and its relevant departments should, in line with their respective functions, formulate targeted measures to strengthen guidance and support for the Cooperation Zone, positioning it as a pioneering experimental zone and pilot area for deepening reform and expanding openness.

Reform measures already implemented in other regions of Guangdong Province should be supported by the Guangdong Provincial People's Government and its relevant departments as the Cooperation Zone meets the necessary conditions and has a genuine need to explore and adopt them.

Support the cooperation zone in applying for authorization through a checklist approach, deepening reforms and expanding openness in key areas such as economic management, business environment, and market regulation.

Article 5: The Cooperation Zone will take the lead in boldly innovating, being the first to test new approaches, and independently exploring key areas and critical links of reform and opening-up. It will promote alignment of rules and integration of mechanisms, aiming to create a regional development model with Chinese characteristics that fully showcases the advantages of the "One Country, Two Systems" principle.

The cooperation zone establishes a fault-tolerance and exemption mechanism. If the reforms and innovations implemented in the cooperation zone fail to achieve the expected objectives, but still align with the zone's strategic positioning and mission requirements, and if the decision-making process complies with applicable laws, regulations, or relevant provisions—provided that no personal gain was sought or any malicious collusion occurred to harm the public interest—then the relevant entities and individuals will be exempt from accountability.

Chapter 2: Governance System

Article 6: The Cooperation Zone Management Committee is jointly established by Guangdong Province and the Macao Special Administrative Region in accordance with the "Overall Plan," and operates under a dual-director system. Relevant units from Guangdong Province and the Macao SAR, the People's Government of Zhuhai City, and central government agencies stationed in Guangdong serve as member entities of the Cooperation Zone Management Committee.

The Cooperation Zone Management Committee is the deliberative and decision-making body responsible for the development and management of the Cooperation Zone, overseeing and deciding on major matters related to the zone. Among these, any issues involving national authority must be submitted for approval according to established procedures.

(1) Major plans, including the overall development plan for the cooperation zone, land and spatial planning, key special plans, annual work summaries and planning arrangements, as well as draft proposals for the annual budget and final accounts.

(II) Major policies, including those requiring support from the Provincial People's Government, as well as significant initiatives in areas such as industry, finance and taxation, talent development, customs clearance, innovation, and entrepreneurship—particularly those that necessitate national-level backing—as well as legislative proposals for the Cooperation Zone.

(III) Major projects, including those in infrastructure development, industrial growth, and public services within the cooperation zone. Specific criteria for these major projects will be established separately by the Cooperation Zone Management Committee.

(IV) Key personnel appointments and dismissals, including proposing candidates for the Deputy Director of the Management Committee, appointing or removing the Secretary-General, Deputy Secretary-General of the Management Committee Secretariat, as well as the Director and Deputy Directors of the Executive Committee, and addressing matters such as the functional structure, organizational setup, and staffing levels of the Executive Committee.

The Cooperation Zone Management Committee may, based on the actual needs of the Cooperation Zone and following established decision-making procedures, adjust the specific details of the major matters outlined in the preceding paragraph.

Article 7: The Cooperation Zone Executive Committee serves as the day-to-day working body of the Cooperation Zone Management Committee, assuming primary responsibility for implementing the zone's development initiatives. It oversees the specific planning and construction activities within the zone and, in accordance with the law, carries out related administrative and public service functions, including international promotion, investment attraction, industrial integration, land development, project construction, as well as education, healthcare, culture, sports, and social security services.

The Cooperation Zone Executive Committee and its working bodies are statutory organizations responsible for administrative management and public services related to the economic and livelihood development of the Cooperation Zone.

Article 8: The administrative and public service functions related to economic management, livelihood support, and other areas previously managed by the former Zhuhai Hengqin New Area Administration Committee of the China (Guangdong) Pilot Free Trade Zone, as well as by the former Zhuhai Hengqin New Area Management Committee and the Hengqin Town People's Government, will now be assumed by the Cooperation Zone Executive Committee and its affiliated working bodies.

Article 9: Economic, livelihood management, and other administrative and public service functions that laws, regulations, and rules stipulate should be exercised by the people's governments at or below the prefecture-level cities and their relevant departments may instead be carried out by the Cooperation Zone Executive Committee and its working agencies.

Economic and public service functions—such as administrative management and policy implementation related to people's livelihoods—that are explicitly assigned by laws, administrative regulations, and departmental rules of the State Council to the People's Government of the province and its relevant departments shall be delegated to the Cooperation Zone Executive Committee and its working bodies for execution, unless otherwise specifically prohibited by laws, administrative regulations, or departmental rules of the State Council.

Economic and public service functions—such as administrative management and policy implementation related to people's livelihoods—that are currently regulated by Guangdong Province's local statutes and Guangdong Provincial Government regulations and were previously exercised by the Provincial People's Government and its relevant departments—are now delegated to the Cooperation Zone Executive Committee and its supporting agencies.

The state administrative powers assumed by the Guangdong Provincial People's Government and its relevant departments may, with the approval of the State Council and its affiliated agencies, be delegated to the Cooperation Zone Executive Committee and its working bodies for implementation.

Article 10: The list of administrative powers delegated by the Guangdong Provincial People's Government and its relevant departments to the Cooperation Zone Executive Committee and its working bodies for exercise shall be formulated by the Guangdong Provincial People's Government and publicly announced to the public.

The list of powers and responsibilities of the Cooperation Zone Executive Committee and its working bodies will be publicly announced by the Cooperation Zone Executive Committee.

Article 11: Based on the actual development needs of the Cooperation Zone, the Cooperation Zone Executive Committee may independently decide on the personnel hired by its working bodies, as well as their salary standards and benefits, and establish a compensation management system aligned with performance objectives.

The Cooperation Zone Executive Committee may recruit staff from both domestic and international professionals, and shall sign employment contracts with the hired personnel.

Article 12: Overseas staff members of the Cooperation Zone Management Committee and the Executive Committee who need to be aware of state secrets due to their job responsibilities must obtain approval from Guangdong Province's administrative department in charge of confidentiality. The Cooperation Zone Executive Committee shall be responsible for implementing specific confidentiality management tasks.

The Guangdong Provincial People's Government may, in accordance with the law, authorize the Cooperation Zone Executive Committee to determine the classification levels of state secrets.

Article 13: The Guangdong Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China and the Guangdong Provincial People's Government have established a dispatched agency in the Cooperation Zone (hereinafter referred to as the Guangdong Provincial Dispatched Agency), which is responsible for functions such as Party building, national security, criminal justice, and public order. This agency will perform local management duties and collaborate closely with the Cooperation Zone Management Committee and Executive Committee to advance the development and construction of the Cooperation Zone. The Guangdong Provincial Dispatched Agency and the Cooperation Zone Executive Committee shall establish mechanisms for reporting major matters and coordinating key initiatives, while also strengthening daily information exchange and sharing.

The Guangdong Provincial People's Government's dispatched agencies exercise administrative management powers in their own names within the scope of their authority, and the list of these powers is publicly announced after being approved by the Guangdong Provincial People's Government.

If the division of responsibilities between the Guangdong Provincial People's Government's dispatched agencies and the Cooperation Zone Executive Committee is unclear, the two parties shall reach a consensus and then submit it for filing with the Cooperation Zone Management Committee. If no agreement can be reached through negotiation, the Cooperation Zone Management Committee will step in to mediate and resolve the issue.

Article 14: The Guangdong-based member units of the Cooperation Zone Management Committee shall establish a direct working liaison mechanism with the Cooperation Zone Executive Committee and its operational bodies, providing business guidance and support to each of the Executive Committee's working units, and assisting in resolving practical issues.

The Office of the Guangdong Provincial Leading Group for Promoting the Development of the Greater Bay Area should play a coordinating, advisory, and implementation-driving role, responsible for coordinating relevant provincial units to support the development and construction of the cooperation zones.

Relevant departments in Guangdong Province should strengthen policy support and resource allocation, creating favorable conditions and prioritizing arrangements for matters related to the Cooperation Zone. Guangdong’s integrated government service platform and integrated administrative enforcement platform should be open to the Cooperation Zone Executive Committee and its working agencies.

Article 15: Zhuhai City shall establish and improve a long-term coordination and communication mechanism with the Cooperation Zone to support, serve, and ensure the development and construction of the zone. For social management, urban administration, and public welfare initiatives in the Cooperation Zone that Zhuhai City is required to take over, the specific arrangements will be determined through consultation between the Cooperation Zone and Zhuhai City. If no consensus can be reached via negotiation, the People’s Government of Guangdong Province will step in to mediate and resolve the issue.

Article 16: Guangdong Province and the Macao Special Administrative Region will consult to establish a mechanism for sharing the benefits of the cooperation zone.

The cooperation zone implements first-level fiscal management, with specific measures to be formulated by the Guangdong Provincial People's Government.

Revenue from the transfer of state-owned land use rights in the cooperation zone is equally shared between the cooperation zone and Zhuhai City, after deducting costs.

Statistical indicators for the cooperation zone's national economy have been integrated into Zhuhai City's statistical data.

Article 17: The Cooperation Zone Executive Committee is responsible for preparing the draft budget of the Cooperation Zone. After approval by the Cooperation Zone Management Committee, the draft will be submitted by the Guangdong Provincial People's Government to the Guangdong Provincial People's Congress for review and approval according to established procedures. Meanwhile, any proposed budget adjustments and draft final accounts, once approved by the Cooperation Zone Management Committee, will be submitted by the Guangdong Provincial People's Government to the Standing Committee of the Guangdong Provincial People's Congress for review and approval following the same procedural steps.

Article 18: Guangdong Province's audit authority shall conduct audit supervision over the Cooperation Zone in accordance with the law.

The Cooperation Zone Management Committee has established an integrity audit mechanism to conduct integrity and audit oversight, as required, over the Cooperation Zone Executive Committee and its working bodies.

Relevant departments in Guangdong Province have strengthened business exchanges on integrity audits with the cooperation zone, fostering better communication and coordination.

Article 19: The Management Committee of the Cooperation Zone shall establish an evaluation index system to assess the effectiveness of promoting Macao's moderate economic diversification within the zone, and conduct annual evaluations. The evaluation results will be reported to the Leading Group for the Development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

Except as provided by law, administrative regulations, and national guidelines, no assessments or evaluations may be established for the Cooperation Zone Executive Committee and its working bodies.

Chapter 3: Planning, Construction, and Management

Article 20: The Cooperation Zone will establish a planning system guided by the overall development plan of the Cooperation Zone, underpinned by land and spatial planning, and supported by specialized plans.

The development and construction of the cooperation zone should align with planning requirements, while also innovating management approaches in areas such as land use for construction, dual control of energy consumption, and pollutant emissions.

Article 21: Land use in the Cooperation Zone shall align with the zone’s planning, guided by the principles of intensive and efficient utilization while ensuring long-term development. A flexible and diversified land supply system will be established, allowing for various approaches such as long-term leasing, lease-then-transfer, a combination of leasing and transfer, and flexible-term supply options tailored to industrial needs. Newly granted construction land must directly support Macao’s efforts to achieve balanced and diversified economic growth.

Article 22: The Cooperation Zone should strengthen infrastructure development, enhance the island's comprehensive transportation system, ensure smooth external connectivity, bolster the construction of "second-line" channels and surrounding infrastructure, and reinforce the integrated, multi-dimensional transportation network linking Hengqin and Macao. This will help foster an infrastructure network that is rationally planned, functionally complete, seamlessly connected, and highly efficient in operation.

Article 23: The Cooperation Zone shall leverage the foundational digital government infrastructure to establish a City Big Data Center and a Smart City Operations Management Center, building an efficient and user-friendly urban management service platform. This platform will support cross-departmental information sharing and business coordination, enabling intelligent allocation of public resources.

The cooperation zone will establish an intelligent application system covering areas such as urban governance, government services, community management, and public livelihood services, while strengthening smart city collaboration between Hengqin and Macao.

Article 24: The Cooperation Zone shall establish and improve a comprehensive coordination mechanism for the development and utilization of underground space, adhering to the principles of safety, efficiency, and moderation, while strengthening the layered development and use of underground spaces. Priority should be given to constructing urban infrastructure and public service facilities in underground areas, including transportation systems, municipal projects, civil defense and disaster prevention measures, and environmental protection initiatives.

Explore innovative land management reforms such as vertical development of urban underground spaces and layered empowerment, establishing land-use rights separately for aboveground, surface-level, and underground areas within construction zones.

Article 25: The Cooperation Zone shall establish a robust system for ecological and environmental assessment, monitoring, and regulation. It must strictly adhere to the ecological protection red lines, environmental quality benchmarks, and resource utilization ceilings. The zone will formulate an ecological and environmental access list, implement ecosystem-based zoning management requirements, and strengthen efforts in activities such as tree planting and afforestation, wetland conservation, shoreline restoration, and marine ecosystem protection.

The cooperation zone should seamlessly integrate ecological conservation with the sustainable use of Macao Bay, while aligning coastal line types with urban functional zoning to create a bay landscape that combines wetland ecology, urban aesthetics, and recreational leisure.

Article 26: The Cooperation Zone should draw on advanced domestic and international experiences to enhance its urban construction and operational management capabilities, while systematically advancing the development of public infrastructure such as sewage networks, solid waste management systems, information technology platforms, and public cultural facilities.

Support the cooperation zone in leveraging its position for integrated development between Hengqin and Macao, innovate high-rise building management models, and scientifically and reasonably set building height and density standards within the scope permitted by national regulations.

Article 27: The Cooperation Zone Executive Committee shall collaborate with the Guangdong provincial agencies to establish a Cooperation Zone Safety Production Committee. This committee will strengthen safety production supervision and management, refine the safety responsibility system, fulfill safety oversight duties, organize and conduct investigations into production safety incidents of Grade II and below, promptly address and resolve significant issues in safety production management, and proactively prevent and mitigate major safety risks at their root causes.

Guangdong Province implements separate performance evaluations for safety production in the cooperation zones.

Chapter 4: Promoting Industrial Development

Article 28: The Cooperation Zone shall formulate an industrial development plan aimed at fostering new technologies, industries, business models, and formats that promote the moderate economic diversification of Macao. Key priorities will include advancing scientific research and development, high-end manufacturing, traditional Chinese medicine, cultural tourism, convention and trade exhibitions, as well as modern finance.

The cooperation zone can collaborate with Macau's public service institutions to carry out investment promotion activities.

The cooperation zone has established a robust joint investment promotion and revenue-sharing mechanism with Zhuhai City, fostering collaborative industrial development.

Article 29: Support the construction and development of urgently needed scientific and technological infrastructure in the cooperation zone, attract top domestic and international research institutions to establish major innovation platforms, build centers for technology innovation and commercialization, create nationally recognized key research platforms, and position the zone as a vital hub for the Greater Bay Area's international science and technology innovation ecosystem.

Article 30: Support the development of integrated circuits, electronic components, new materials, new energy, big data, artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, and the biopharmaceutical industry within the cooperation zone.

Support the development of a specialized microelectronics industry cluster in the cooperation zone, establish an advanced testing technology and service platform for integrated circuits, deploy chip R&D and manufacturing projects, and build a global hub for the distribution of electronic components.

Support the accelerated development of the digital economy in the cooperation zone, enhance digital infrastructure, foster a collaborative innovation ecosystem for artificial intelligence, and promote applications in areas such as smart healthcare and autonomous driving. Additionally, leverage big data, AI, IoT, and other cutting-edge technologies to empower the real economy and urban development, ultimately helping to build a next-generation internet industry cluster.

Article 31: Support the construction of a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) production base and innovation hub within the cooperation zone, promote TCM service trade, and establish a pharmaceutical innovation, research, and translation platform that features independent intellectual property rights and embodies Chinese characteristics.

Traditional Chinese:

Article 32: Support the development of the greater health industry in the cooperation zone, including leisure and wellness, rehabilitation medicine, health management, and high-end medical services.

Support the research and development and application of cutting-edge medical technologies, and encourage qualified medical institutions within the cooperation zone to initiate clinical research projects involving stem cells and somatic cells—after obtaining approval and registration from relevant national authorities. Additionally, support medical institutions in the cooperation zone to strengthen collaboration and knowledge exchange with mainland Chinese or Hong Kong/Macau healthcare facilities that are already legally engaged in clinical studies of stem cells, somatic cells, and other advanced therapies, thereby enhancing their clinical research capabilities and expertise.

Article 33: Support the development of cultural and tourism industries in the Cooperation Zone, including leisure and resort activities, conventions and exhibitions, stage performances, sports event tourism, and yacht-based tourism, while striving to build Hengqin into a world-class international leisure and tourism island.

Support the cooperation zone in launching international tourism brand promotion, creating premium "one-route-multiple-destinations" travel itineraries, fostering cross-sector integration of tourism and culture, and developing cultural and creative industries such as film & television, original arts, animation, and esports.

Support holding the International High-Quality Consumer Expo and the World Bay Area Forum in the Cooperation Zone.

Article 34: Support the development of the Cooperation Zone into a high-quality import consumer goods trading center, a China-Portugal International Trade Center, and an international hub port for digital trade.

Article 35: Support the development of financial sectors in the Cooperation Zone, including banking, securities, insurance, and private equity investment. Additionally, encourage innovative growth of modern financial industries in the Cooperation Zone, such as wealth management, bond markets, and financial leasing.

Encourage the cooperation zone to foster a financial business environment aligned with Hong Kong, Macao, and international standards, while exploring the establishment of a financial regulatory coordination mechanism tailored to support the zone's high-level opening-up initiatives.

Article 36: The Cooperation Zone shall formulate policy measures to attract high-end and in-demand talent to participate in the zone's development, providing appropriate funding and incentives for newly recruited top-tier professionals and major talent platforms.

Support the pilot program for comprehensive reforms of talent development systems and mechanisms in the cooperation zone, strengthen alignment with Macao's talent initiatives, and establish talent recruitment, evaluation, incentive, and research management systems that are fully aligned with international standards.

Support the cooperation zone in implementing more open talent residency and stay management measures, as well as adopting a more flexible temporary entry-and-exit policy for individuals and offering convenient work visa policies.

Article 37: For industrial enterprises within the cooperation zone that meet the national criteria, the corporate income tax will be levied at a reduced rate of 15%. Additionally, eligible capital expenditures incurred by these enterprises may, in accordance with national regulations, either be deducted in full from taxable income in the year they are made or subject to accelerated depreciation and amortization.

Income derived from newly added foreign direct investments made by tourism, modern service industry, and high-tech enterprises established in the cooperation zone will be exempt from corporate income tax, as per national regulations.

High-end and in-demand talents—both domestic and foreign—working in the cooperation zone will have the portion of their personal income tax liability exceeding 15% exempted, as per national regulations.

For Macao residents working in the cooperation zone, the portion of their personal income tax liability that exceeds Macao's tax burden will be exempted according to national regulations.

Chapter 5: Facilitating the Daily Life and Employment of Macao Residents

Article 38: Promote the deep integration of the Cooperation Zone with Macao's public services and social security systems in areas such as education, healthcare, social services, and transportation, providing convenient conditions for Macao residents to study, work, start businesses, and live in the Cooperation Zone.

Article 39: Support the cooperation zone in improving educational policies for children of Macao residents who work and live in the zone, establish an education service mechanism that seamlessly connects with Macao, promote exchanges and collaboration with Macao schools, and encourage the establishment of schools or classes specifically designed for Macao students within the cooperation zone.

The cooperation zone is promoting universal access to preschool education, vigorously developing inclusive preschool programs, strengthening the development of high-quality public school places, and supporting social organizations in establishing private kindergartens.

Children of Macao residents working and living in the Cooperation Zone enjoy the same rights as local Hengqin residents when it comes to enrolling in schools and kindergartens.

Article 40: Support the cooperation zone in developing platforms such as the Hengqin-Macao Youth Entrepreneurship Valley and the China-Portugal Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship Base, providing more space for Macao youth to engage in innovation and entrepreneurship.

The Guangdong Provincial People's Government and its relevant departments should provide policy support to Macao youth seeking innovation, entrepreneurship, and employment in the Cooperation Zone, ensuring that Macao youths participating in these activities can simultaneously benefit from support policies offered by both Guangdong and Macao.

Article 41: In accordance with national regulations, professionals from fields such as finance, construction, planning, and design—holding overseas practice qualifications from Macao or other regions—may provide services in the Cooperation Zone after filing, provided they meet the relevant industry regulatory requirements. Their overseas work experience will be recognized as equivalent to domestic work experience under these conditions.

Article 53: The Cooperation Zone will be supported in establishing a highly streamlined market access system. In accordance with national regulations, special measures will be implemented to ease market entry restrictions within the zone, eliminating or relaxing requirements related to investor qualifications, equity ownership limits, and industry准入 barriers for various types of investors engaging in investment and trade activities in the Cooperation Zone. Additionally, the zone will simplify government service processes, further integrate approval resources, enhance approval efficiency, and reduce associated costs.

Article 42: Support will be provided for exploring the provision of Macao-style services in the cooperation zone, including healthcare, education, radio and television, film production, and community services, to create a living environment that seamlessly connects with Macao.

Building livelihood projects such as "Macau New Neighborhood" in the cooperation zone to expand high-quality living spaces for Macao residents.

Article 43: Medical and healthcare service providers from Macao are encouraged to establish medical institutions within the cooperation zone through wholly-owned, joint venture, or cooperative arrangements.

The medical institution mentioned in the preceding paragraph may, upon approval, use clinically needed drugs and special medical-purpose formulated foods that are already available on the market in Macau, as well as clinically essential medical devices that have been procured and used by public hospitals in Macau and demonstrate advanced clinical applications (excluding large-scale medical equipment).

Article 44: Support the alignment of the cooperation zone with Macau's elderly care service standards and regulations, providing diversified care services for seniors and developing integrated medical-and-care elderly care facilities.

Article 45: The Cooperation Zone shall collaborate with neighboring regions on regional emergency response efforts, establishing and improving systems for information sharing and joint emergency management mechanisms, thereby working together to effectively address coordinated prevention and control of sudden incidents across the region.

Promote the joint establishment of regional healthcare consortia and a regional medical center in the cooperation zone by Guangdong and Macao, working together to respond to public health emergencies.

Article 46: Support the establishment of a social service cooperation mechanism between the Cooperation Zone and Macao, fostering integrated development in community governance and service delivery across the two regions.

Support eligible Macao social service organizations to provide relevant social services within the cooperation zone in accordance with the law.

Chinese nationals residing in Macao can serve as members or leaders of social organizations in the Cooperation Zone, in accordance with national regulations.

Chapter 6: Promoting Integrated Development of Hengqin and Macao

Article 47: Support the cooperation zone in establishing a new, high-level open system integrated with Macao, facilitating the efficient and seamless flow of factors, and fostering a market-oriented, rule-of-law-based, and internationally competitive business environment.

Article 48: In accordance with relevant national regulations, eligible goods and items may enter the Cooperation Zone via "Frontier One" without (or with) tax exemption.

Goods entering or leaving the Cooperation Zone and Macao via "Line 1" (excluding goods in transit through the Cooperation Zone) will be subject to filing management as stipulated by national regulations, with streamlined declaration procedures and requirements.

Article 49: Goods, articles, means of transportation, and other items entering or leaving the Cooperation Zone and mainland China must do so through the "Second-Line" checkpoint.

Tax-free (or duty-free) goods entering the mainland through the "Second Line" channel from the cooperation zone are subject to customs procedures as per regulations for imported goods, with tariffs and taxes levied at the import stage in accordance with the law.

Goods produced by enterprises within the cooperation zone—whether containing imported components or made entirely from locally sourced materials, provided their value-added processing in the zone reaches or exceeds 30%—will be exempt from import tariffs when entering the mainland via the "second-line" channel, as per national regulations.

Goods entering the Cooperation Zone from the mainland via the "Second Line" channel are treated as exports and are eligible for VAT and consumption tax refunds in accordance with current tax policies. For taxable export goods subject to export duties, these duties will be collected as usual, and customs procedures will be handled as necessary.

Article 50: Promote pilot initiatives in the Cooperation Zone to reform and innovate animal and plant inspection and quarantine practices, exploring the establishment of simpler, more streamlined, and optimized inspection and quarantine models.

Article 51: In the Cooperation Zone, the "First Line" will implement a cooperative inspection and one-time clearance customs model as prescribed, with health quarantine conducted in accordance with the law. The "Second Line," however, imposes no restrictions on the entry or exit of personnel.

Promote the implementation of broader and deeper information sharing, law enforcement cooperation, and mutual recognition of regulations at the Gongbei-Macau Port, comprehensively enhancing the convenience of cross-border clearance.

Support eligible Macau-registered vehicles to enter the Cooperation Zone without requiring a guarantee. Additionally, encourage the relaxation of restrictions so that Macau residents holding valid Macau driving licenses can drive vehicles in the Cooperation Zone that match their licensed vehicle types.

Article 52: The Cooperation Zone will implement a more open personnel entry and exit policy, creating more convenient conditions for individuals from both inside and outside the region to enter and leave. A visa authority established at the Hengqin Port will provide foreign nationals with on-site visa services, facilitating their entry into the Cooperation Zone.

The immigration management authorities of the public security organs in the Cooperation Zone can accept, approve, issue, and produce visas and residence permits for foreigners. Additionally, eligible mainland residents working in enterprises, universities, and research institutions within the Cooperation Zone will be subject to a business and talent endorsement filing system.

Article 53: The Cooperation Zone will be supported in establishing a highly streamlined market access system. In accordance with national regulations, special measures will be implemented to ease market entry restrictions within the zone, removing or relaxing requirements related to investor qualifications, equity ownership limits, and industry准入 barriers for various types of investors engaging in investment and trade activities in the Cooperation Zone. Additionally, the zone will simplify government service processes, further integrate approval resources, enhance approval efficiency, and reduce associated costs.

Support the cooperation zone in expanding the international trade single-window functionality, enhancing cargo clearance efficiency, and facilitating cross-border trade.

The cooperation zone is implementing cross-border integrated services for Macao's business registration, paving the way for establishing a mechanism that enables seamless sharing and exchange of business registration information with Macao.

Article 54: Support the establishment of an account management system in the Cooperation Zone that aligns with its development, facilitate the free and convenient flow of funds between the Cooperation Zone and Macao, and create a cross-border investment and financing management framework tailored to the needs of high-level trade and investment liberalization and facilitation.

Encourage insurance institutions in the cooperation zones and Macao to collaborate on developing cross-border insurance products and providing cross-border insurance services.

Article 55: Support the Cooperation Zone in conducting pilot programs for cross-border data transfer management under the national framework of data security regulations, and in establishing a green channel for fixed-line network access to the international internet.

Support the cooperation zones, Macau's relevant universities, and research institutions in achieving lawful cross-border connectivity of scientific research data, provided that personal information and critical data security are fully ensured.

Chapter 7: Rule of Law Safeguards

Article 56: Support the cooperation zone in accelerating the expansion of institutional openness in areas such as rules, regulations, governance, and standards, and gradually establish a system framework that aligns Macao's civil and commercial rules with international practices.

Article 57: The Cooperation Zone Executive Committee and the Guangdong Province-based institutions, based on the needs of reform and development and with the approval of the Cooperation Zone Management Committee, may recommend that the Guangdong Provincial People’s Congress and its Standing Committee enact regulations—or suggest that the Zhuhai Municipal People’s Congress and its Standing Committee formulate special economic zone regulations—for implementation within the Cooperation Zone.

Article 58: The Cooperation Zone Executive Committee and the Guangdong provincial agencies, based on the needs of reform and development, may recommend that the Standing Committee of the Guangdong Provincial People's Congress and the Guangdong Provincial People's Government temporarily adjust or suspend the application of relevant Guangdong provincial local regulations and Guangdong provincial government rules within the Cooperation Zone.

If any provisions in Zhuhai City’s local regulations or municipal government rules fail to align with the development of the Cooperation Zone, the Cooperation Zone Executive Committee and the Guangdong Province’s dispatched agencies may propose adjustments or recommendations to cease applying such provisions within the zone. The Standing Committee of the Zhuhai Municipal People’s Congress and the Zhuhai Municipal People’s Government are expected to provide support and handle these proposals according to established procedures.

Article 59: The Cooperation Zone will establish a comprehensive law enforcement system. With the approval of the Guangdong Provincial People's Government, the Cooperation Zone Executive Committee may, within its authorized scope, designate a specific working agency to centrally exercise administrative penalty powers and publicly announce this arrangement.

The Cooperation Zone Executive Committee may, based on the practical needs of reform and innovation within the zone, establish benchmarks for administrative discretion to ensure the standardized exercise of such powers.

Administrative law enforcement officers in the Cooperation Zone must carry the Administrative Enforcement Certificates of the People's Republic of China when conducting administrative enforcement activities. The issuance and management of these certificates shall follow relevant national and Guangdong provincial regulations, with specific implementation organized by the Cooperation Zone Executive Committee.

Article 60: Any organizations or individuals who disagree with administrative actions taken by the working bodies of the Cooperation Zone Executive Committee or the working bodies of the Guangdong Provincial People's Government’s dispatched agencies may separately apply for administrative reconsideration to either the Cooperation Zone Executive Committee or the relevant dispatch agency of the Guangdong Provincial People's Government.

Units and individuals who disagree with administrative actions taken by the Cooperation Zone Executive Committee and its working bodies, as well as by agencies dispatched by the Guangdong Provincial People's Government and their respective working bodies, may file an administrative lawsuit with the People's Court in accordance with the law.

Article 61: Strengthen judicial exchange and collaboration between Guangdong and Macao, and promote the establishment of a comprehensive, diversified mechanism for resolving commercial disputes in the Cooperation Zone, including international commercial litigation, arbitration, and mediation.

Encourage the arbitration institutions in the cooperation zone to draw on the advanced management systems and models of international commercial arbitration organizations, establish a globally recognized commercial arbitration mechanism, and create an arbitration cooperation platform connecting Zhuhai and Macao.

Encourage the lawful conduct of international commercial mediation within the cooperation zone. Commercial mediation agreements reached by the parties and containing enforceable obligations, once notarized to confer legal enforcement power or officially confirmed by a People's Court, may be submitted to the People's Court for compulsory enforcement.

Article 62: Promote the integrated development of legal services such as law practice, notarization, and legal aid between Guangdong Province and Macao. Accelerate the construction of the Qian'an-Macao International Legal Services Cluster Area and enhance the quality of foreign-related legal services. Support the establishment of a lawyers' association within the Cooperation Zone to strengthen professional management of the legal industry.

Individuals who have obtained the lawyer's practice certificate (Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area) are authorized to handle certain civil and commercial legal matters—both litigation and non-litigation—under Mainland Chinese law within the cooperation zone, as stipulated by national regulations.

Notarized documents in civil and commercial matters issued by Macau notary offices or by Chinese-delegated notaries (Macau) can be used within the cooperation zone according to national regulations.

Residents of Macao applying for legal aid in the Cooperation Zone may have their financial situation verified by the legal aid agency according to Macao’s regulations regarding eligibility criteria and the scope of judicial assistance.

Article 63: Support the establishment, within the Cooperation Zone, of extraterritorial legal verification service institutions in accordance with the law, providing services that include legal verification for jurisdictions such as Macao and Portuguese-speaking countries (regions).

Article 64: The Cooperation Zone Executive Committee shall strengthen supervision over the production and business activities of market entities, improve the credit regulatory system for market entities, and establish mechanisms for publicizing credit information and conducting credit evaluations of market entities.

Article 65: The Cooperation Zone shall establish a safety risk early warning and prevention system to proactively identify and address significant risks.

The Cooperation Zone is strengthening supervision over anti-money laundering, counter-terrorism financing, tax evasion prevention, and illegal fundraising efforts. It will also implement joint port inspections and market-entry controls—in accordance with the law—for prohibited, restricted, and high-risk goods. Relevant departments in Guangdong Province should enhance their oversight and inspection of the enforcement of fiscal, tax, and financial policies within the Cooperation Zone.

Guangdong Province's dispatched agencies, together with central institutions stationed in Guangdong and the Cooperation Zone Executive Committee, have established a comprehensive anti-smuggling governance mechanism characterized by clear division of responsibilities and collaborative efforts. Customs, immigration control, public security, and other departments are jointly leveraging inspection, verification, investigation, and anti-smuggling enforcement measures to crack down on smuggling and other illegal criminal activities in accordance with the law.

Chapter 8: Supplementary Provisions

Article 66: These Regulations shall come into effect on March 1, 2023.