Form 4 General English Newspaper Article 2 (2nd Semester, 2021)

Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation

Source：hengqin.gov.cn Updated：2022-08-25
Macao, Hengqin agree to develop tourism businesses hand in hand
A "joint discussion and construction" mechanism will be established to promote Hengqin and Macao tourism industries and
realize resource complementarity and mutual assistance in tourist attraction.

The Hotel & Tourism Association of Macao and Hengqin Tourism Association signed a framework agreement Aug 23 to
strategically cooperate in tourism businesses. They met at the Macao-Hengqin Tourism Business Cooperation Conference at
Sumlodol Hengqin Camping Town and explored development prospects of the culture, tourism, convention and exhibition
industries in the two regions.

Meanwhile, both parties will strengthen cooperation in tourism, use publicity activities to promote tourism destinations in the
other region, jointly create tourism brands, and develop tourism products as well as domestic and foreign tourist markets.
Under the Overall Development Plan for Construction of the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, efforts
will be made to develop comprehensive tourism industries like leisure and vacation, conferences and exhibitions, sports events
and sightseeing as well as "big health" industry covering healthcare and rehabilitation. Development of tourism resources on
surrounding islands will also be enhanced to promote independent yacht travel in Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao.

Hengqin and Macao are each rich in tourism resources and have advantages of coordinated development in culture and tourism. In
addition to traditional scenic spots such as the Ruins of the Cathedral of Saint Paul and A-Ma  Temple in Macao, versatile tourism
products, including indoor parachute jumping and helicopter tours as well as theme activities like Stay, Dine, and See Macao,
have been explored in recent years.

Separated from Macao by a strip of water, Hengqin has favorable ecological resources such as mountains, sea, forests, wetlands,
coastlines, and lush vegetation. The island is home to an agglomeration of cultural and tourism projects like
Chimelong International Ocean Resort, Sumlodol Hengqin Camping Town, Lionsgate Entertainment World, and Hengqin
National Geographic Ultimate Explorer.

In addition, the proportion of ecological land in Hengqin exceeds 50 percent, providing ample space for leisure tourism that can
complement Macao's international and modern tourism. The participants shared insights on the overall promotion of tourism
image, creation of "one journey and multiple stops" tourism routes, organization of cross-border activities, mutual assistance in
tourist attraction, and the facilitation of customs clearance at the conference.

Issues were also discussed on utilizing Cooperation Zone policy advantages to coordinate development of the culture, tourism,
convention and exhibition industries as and to explore broader development space for industrial cooperation in the two regions.
Fu Yongge, deputy director of Cooperation Zone Executive Committee, noted that culture, tourism, convention and exhibition are
among major industries to facilitate Macao moderate economic diversification. The Cooperation Zone will promote the synergetic
development of those industries in Hengqin and Macao via a series of supportive policies and measures, added Fu.
Su Kun, deputy director of the Cooperation Zone Executive Committee, said the conference is an important manifestation of
exchanges and cooperation between the industries of the two regions. He expressed hope that a mechanism of "joint discussion
and construction" would be established to create “good schemes” for the culture, tourism, convention and exhibition industries in
the future with efforts of both sides.
Source：hengqin.gov.cn Updated：2022-08-24
Hengqin launches 30 measures to ensure stable economic growth
Thirty measures were recently launched by the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin to ensure stable local
economic growth. Financial service entities will offer more support for real economic development. Financing guarantee agencies
will give more financing credits to micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises in Hengqin, while preferential policies supporting
SMEs in financing development will be released.

Enterprises in Hengqin will receive guidance in getting listed on domestic or overseas stock exchanges for financing and are
supported to issue bonds in Macao. Foreign and social capital are welcomed to participate in major industrial development in the
Cooperation Zone. Construction will advance on a batch of major projects, including the Cooperation Zone's first-tier and second-
tier customs surveillance sites, as well as a smart checkpoint public service platform. Transportation infrastructure projects, such
as the Hezhou-Hengqin section of the Guangzhou-Zhuhai (Macao) High-Speed Railway, will be sped up.

A new-type electrical power system will be built in Hengqin, while the application of distributed photovoltaic power generation
and energy storage technology will be promoted. Public service facilities will be further optimized to ensure supply of basic
livelihood facilities in Hengqin. Moreover, major industrial projects that are forward-looking and strategic will be introduced to
Hengqin as a way to cultivate new industries. The third Hengqin Sci-tech Innovation & Entrepreneurship Competition will be held
to create a strong innovation and entrepreneurship atmosphere. 

The Hengqin-based Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Science & Technology Industrial Park of Cooperation Between
Guangdong and Macao is expected to forge better paths of development, while relevant supportive policies on the industrial
development of biomedicine and big health industries will be released.

Efforts will be made in cultivating next-generation internet new business forms, such as the metaverse, while the technical
application will be strengthened in fields like robots, artificial intelligence, inductors, and the internet of vehicles.  In terms of
simplifying examination and approval procedures for more efficient service capacity, industrial projects will have to pay zero fees
before they receive approvals for construction and are supported to start construction right after obtaining land use permits.

The operation costs of market entities will be further lowered. For example, industrial spaces and offices in Hengqin will have
lower rents, while enterprises and individual business operators in the Cooperation Zone will receive subsidies on commercial
electricity, water, and heating use. Coupons on consumption and service will be released, while a series of cultural tourism
promotion events will be held.

Start-ups and individual business operators meeting certain requirements will receive a one-year free legal service, while
operation subsidies will also go to those opening new shipping routes and passenger terminals. 
Requirements
1. Write a summary (50 words) and a reflection (100 words)
2. Guiding questions for reflections:
a. The Overall Development Plan for Construction of the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin
stated that it would develop comprehensive tourism industries. Out of all the tourism industries mentioned in the news,
which one seems most likely to gain success first? Why?
b. Besides comprehensive tourism industries, it also aims to develop “big health” industry. What changes will it bring
to Macao’s local health sector?
c. Micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises in Hengqin will be able to gain more support from financing agencies. What
are some of the advantages/ disadvantage of joining these small enterprises? Are you interested in working for these
enterprises? Why or why not?
d. What do you think about some of the above benefits that are offered to start-up enterprises and individual businesses?
3. You have to use TWO out of the following sentence structures, and underline the structures.
Sentence Structure 1
 It is interesting to learn English.
 It is difficult for me to speak English.
 It is kind of you to help me do my project.
 It is important that we review our lesson after class.

Sentence Structure 2
 Climbing mountains is interesting
 Driving during rush hour is tiring.