Macao and Zhuhai had reached preliminary agreement on the location of the cross-border industrial zone, said the Secretary for Economy and finance, Francis Tam.

According to Francis Tam, the cross-border industrial zone would be located at the Green Island district of Macao and extended onto reclamation land between the northwestern coast of Macao peninsular and Zhuhai to be completed by both sides.

He also said that the industrial zone is expected to have a total area of 200 thousand square meters, which would be equally divided between Macao and Zhuhai. Adding that relevant departments and authorities of the two governments would follow up on the details of the projects.

Francis tam said that the two governments would report to the Guangdong Provincial government and the Central Government on the project. Structural work would expectedly starts in mid 2003 and some of the factories in the zone might hopefully start production in late 2004, added Francis Tam.

The two governments also agreed to set up an ad hoc working group for the project, he said, which would discuss on related topics including the ratio of Macao and Zhuhai workers, salary level and facilities inside the industrial zone.