What if Macau is ‘gifted’ Chinese island of Hengqin, where some of the big casino names already own land, as reports suggest?
- There is increasing talk that Macau will be given control of, or administration over, the next-door Chinese island of Hengqin to boost tourism development
- Parts of the 100 sq km island in Zhuhai are already leased by Macau entities, including the University of Macau
Spare a thought for Macau. While the media has made much ado about the absence of arrivals at other tourism-dependent Asian destinations, Hong Kong’s neighbouring special administrative region has escaped attention.
However, there may be more Macau to visit in the future, if reports “circling” in Chinese-language media are to be believed. According to online gaming industry publication Inside Asian Gaming, “a handful” of media outlets have announced “that China’s central government is set to hand over the nearby Special Economic Zone of Hengqin to Macau”.
These reports suggest that “Hengqin would either be given to Macau as a ‘gift’ or placed under Macau’s administration, either directly or in a joint arrangement with Guangdong province”, under whose jurisdiction it currently resides.
When will Taiwan open for travel again? It could be the last in Asia
In August 2020, casino-industry platform GGRAsia reported that “Macau took a step closer to economic integration with the neighbouring mainland territory of Hengqin island […] when a boundary-crossing facility between the two places – known as Hengqin Port, part of which comes under Macau jurisdiction – officially opened its passenger-processing area.”
Some of Macau’s big casino names already own land in Hengqin. According to Galaxy Entertainment Group’s website, the hotel and casino developer is planning to build “a world class, lifestyle leisure resort on a 2.7 square kilometre land parcel on Hengqin”.
Shun Tak, meanwhile, “has a site area of 23,834 square metres, atop of which around 42,300 square metres of office, 45,500 square metres of retail, 16,700 square metres of hotel and 32,800 square metres of serviced flats have been planned, along with 1,311 car parking spaces”. But although the Shun Tak website maintains that “completion is targeted for 2020”, Inside Asian Gaming notes that none of the “contemplated future non-gaming developments […] have yet begun any significant construction work or announced details of their plans”.
Regarding any Hengqin handover, Inside Asian Gaming reported that “Macau Chief Executive Ho Iat-seng refused to confirm any details […] but said further cooperation between Macau and Guangdong Province would be announced ‘very soon’.” An announcement could be expected on August 8, the publication hinted.
As Macau opens up to Chinese visitors, can it become a luxury shopping hub?
Previous efforts to do that seem to have failed, so here’s to bankin’ on Hengqin!
Unesco World Heritage list adds new sites, and removes one
On the plus side, though, Unesco added several “properties” to the World Heritage List, one of which includes sites in seven countries: the “Great Spa Towns of Europe”.
Among the Asian attractions added is the Kakatiya Rudreshwara Temple, in the Indian state of Telangana. Popularly known as Ramappa Temple, it dates back to 1213 and is home to “sculptures of high artistic quality [that] illustrate regional dance customs and Kakatiyan culture”, according to Unesco.
Other sites added to the World Heritage List this year include: the Hima Cultural Area, in Saudi Arabia; Iran’s Trans-Iranian Railway; the Paseo del Prado and Retiro Park, in Madrid, Spain; the Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex, in Thailand; and the Getbol, Korean Tidal Flats.
Good luck visiting any of them before Unesco next adjusts its list.