Hengqin Dao, the island west of Taipa and Coloane, is being promoted by China’s central government as a mecca for leisure in the Pearl River Delta. Promotional material has been issued and Wam Kam, as it is known in Cantonese, Ilha da Montanha in Portuguese, looks set to become serious competition to its wealthy neighbour, Macau.
For years, the people of tiny Macau have talked about expanding into the adjacent islands to relieve their space shortage. Interestingly, some historical sources suggest Hengqin Dao was actually a part of Macau when it was under Portuguese rule in the very early years. So, for Macau to push westwards, and reap the rewards, would seem natural. But China has other ideas and wants a tripart development of the island, involving Macau, Hong Kong and Guangdong province.
Actually, infrastructural and building work on the island has been going on for some time. The first project was notably the new campus of the University of Macau, now well underway to the left side of the Lotus Bridge. Roads are being laid and utilities set up. Once the university got approval to begin construction, by the way, many of Macau’s other educational institutions submitted applications to Beijing for building permits.
But there are also those in Macau who fear that the housing projects on Hengqin Dao may end up like the previous development surge some years back. None of them was completed and the buildings just stand empty and unfinished — an eyesore just across the channel.
Here is another project underway on Hengqin Dao: on the left side of the bridge (above) connecting the Cotai area of Macau to Hengqin Dao, and to the left of Hengqinzhen (Hengqin village), the largest water amusement park in Asia is being built. This is a massive investment to attract customers from the Mainland as well as Macau. Of course, free movement between Macau and Hengqin is going to be necessary; word is that should be sorted out by the end of the year. Other details such as car insurance and driving licences are now being discussed.
The scale of what is being undertaken on Hengqin Dao is, of course, amazing but not unlike the headlong rush to modernise and develop elsewhere in China. Consider that Hengqin Dao is three times the size of Macau and is the largest island in the Zhuhai region. At present it has 3,000 or so residents. By 2020, the estimate is 280,000!
Divided into three specific zones — Leisure and Tourism, Education, Science and R&D, and Commercial — the island has a number of other projects underway (right). By 2012 most of the roads will be ready, including primary and secondary routes, a throughway, a ring road, landscaping and embankments. Not forgetting the MTR Guangzhou-Zhuhai and Guangzhou-Zhuhai extension of the West Expressway.
Let’s hope the construction (right) side of Hengqin’s development will not end up like the infamous housing projects in Hong Kong (for example, the one on Lamma). As for the marine side, the official promotional material does feature marinas and facilities for recreational boating. One is connected to a residential area and the other to the recreational zone covering the area south and east of the island (where the Tianhua Natural Scenic Area, San Diequan Scenic Area and Sea Paradise are now).
In addition, there appear to be navigation channels, possibly based on what currently exists on the island. The lower area of Hengqin Dao has a network of channels and waterways very well known to the people who like to go fishing there.
Planners would do well to factor in more marine recreation into Hengqin Dao’s development. Not only can this satisfy the needs of wealthy Mainlanders and Macanese, but it could also draw very lucrative custom from good old Hong Kong. It’s not too far and, if they get their clearance procedures right, it would be perfect for fleets of yachts (given Macau’s woeful record for paperwork).
Planners should also take a shrewd look at Hong Kong’s failure to develop its superyacht appeal. With marinas popping up almost monthly in places like Hainan, Nansha and elsewhere along the southern China coast, they could come up with incentives to draw floating visitors from outside Asia. Worth a thought.
In 2015, according to the data that was made public, the watercourse Maliuzhou Waterfront Landscape and Zhongzingou Belt Valley Waterfront Landscape will be equipped with all sorts of cultural and recreational services. Don’t dismiss this: consider the incredible Nanhai No.1 museum on Hailing Island (three hours’ drive southwest of Zhuhai, covered in our Number 255 issue).
The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau bridge, scheduled for completion in 2016, may contribute to the popularity of Hengqin Dao, provided tolls are made attractive for private cars and coaches.
Other projects currently underway on Hengqin Dao include the Chime-Long International Ocean Resort, an industrial park for Guangdong-Macau cooperation, the headquarters building for the Hengqin Development Board, the Shizimen Central Business District (CBD), a multigas-engine generator and supplier and the first phase of Hengqin New Home Complex.
For the Macanese, Hengqin’s ascendancy is viewed as a good thing. There is little space in Macau to grow and there is no desire for more reclamation. Hengqin could provide liebensraum and help improve the quality of life in the former Portuguese enclave.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWIuUfUm2kQ&NR=1
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