The Macao Special Administrative Region today (23 July) signed an agreement with the Zhuhai Government to lease land for the new border gate checkpoint.

Chief Executive Edmund Ho witnessed the signing ceremony held at the World Trade Center.

The Secretary for Transport and Public Works, Ao Man Long, and the Vice-Governor of Zhuhai, Zhou Benhui, signed the agreement on behalf of the two governments.

The land, which is located between the two current checkpoints, has a total area of 28,042.6 square meters. It was leased to Macao for 50 years at an annual rent of 10 RMB per square meter.

The land will accommodate the new Macao SAR border gate checkpoint, which is expected to be completed before National Day next year. The new checkpoint will have the capability to handle 250 thousand people and 20-25 thousand vehicles a day. It will greatly facilitate the heavy cross border traffic between the Macao SAR and Zhuhai.

Since 1 June of this year, the Macao SAR Government has had the right to enforce judicial and administration power on this land.