The Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin (hereinafter referred to as the Cooperation Zone) will be closed and operated from 0:00 on 1 March. Will the lockdown affect tourists? What are the changes in the entry and exit of citizens and tourists in Hengqin Island? On February 19, the cooperation zone held a press conference on the operation of sub-line management and customs closure to answer public questions.
There is no precedent for the operation of sub-line management and customs closure.
After all, as a new thing, new exploration and new case of regional development, there is no precedent to follow, and the supply and supporting of various policies is also a process of gradual deepening and implementation. The implementation of the policy of sub-line management still needs to be continuously optimized and improved according to the reality of the continuous development and changes of the Hengqin Cooperation Zone, as well as the actual needs of Hengqin and Macao residents, especially Macao enterprises, Macao residents and Macao capital. Fu Yongge, member of the Hengqin Working Committee of the Guangdong Provincial Party Committee and deputy director of the Executive Committee, said that "sub-line management" is the cornerstone policy of the cooperation zone, and it is also the core policy that highlights the deeper, greater and wider opening up of the Hengqin cooperation zone. It is both an "old thing" and a "new thing".
In terms of concept, in 2009, the "Hengqin Overall Development Plan" was approved in 2009, and there was a prototype of the policy of sub-line management, but it was only a framework design at that time. In 2011, the "Reply to the Relevant Policies on the Development of Hengqin" clearly stated that Hengqin will implement sub-line management in accordance with the principle of "first-line relaxation, second-line control, separation of people and goods, and classified management". At the same time, it is clarified that only goods related to production can enter Hengqin be exempt from duty. The Ministry of Finance, the General Administration of Customs, the State Administration of Taxation and other national ministries and commissions have successively provided and supported relevant policies for the development of Hengqin New Area, which has effectively promoted and promoted the development and construction of Hengqin, and laid a solid foundation for the realization of the original intention of creating conditions for the diversified development of Macao's industries.
In terms of content, the Hengqin Plan announced on 5 September 2021 proposes to build a new system of high-level integration and opening-up with Macao, and at the same time, deepens the policy framework for the management of Hengqin cooperation zones, that is, the "first line" of goods is liberalized, the "second line" is controlled, and the entry and exit of personnel is highly convenient. In addition to the goods and articles that are not exempt from tax exemption and bonded according to national laws and administrative regulations, other goods or articles are exempt from tax and bonded entry, and a series of policies such as 30% tariff exemption for processing value-added and export tax rebate have been clarified. The specific content of the policy is mainly to better match the development of the Hengqin Co-operation Zone to promote the moderate diversification of Macao's economy, and to build a new home that facilitates the life and employment of Macao residents, and is also a concrete implementation of the policy arrangement of "establishing and improving the institutional mechanism for Guangdong-Macao cooperation in the development of Hengqin, innovating the management model, and promoting the economic integration and development of Macao and Hengqin".
Fu Yongge believes that it is of great significance for the Hengqin Cooperation Zone to implement the operation of sub-line management and customs closure. In the future, the flow of logistics, capital and information between Hengqin and Macao will be more efficient and convenient, and Macao residents who study, work, start businesses and live in the Co-operation Zone will have a stronger sense of "new home". Macao's new industries with moderate economic diversification, especially Macao's branded industries such as science and technology research and development, traditional Chinese medicine, manufacturing, and convention and exhibition industries, will gain a broader space for development in the Co-operation Zone.
The closure operation has brought benefits.
Since December 2023, the Ministry of Finance, the General Administration of Customs, the State Administration of Taxation and other national ministries and commissions have successively issued seven policies, clarifying the tax policy and special customs supervision system for the implementation of "first-line" liberalization and "second-line" control in the cooperation zone. Recently, in order to cooperate with the effective implementation of the above policies, the cooperation zone and the customs department have also formulated five supporting documents.
Zhong Yiyi, director of the Legal Affairs Bureau of the Cooperation Zone, introduced that the core content of the policy is mainly the change in the financial and tax supervision methods of "first-line" and "second-line" goods and articles. In terms of goods, except for the laws and administrative regulations that expressly do not allow tax exemption and bonded, eligible goods, including machinery, equipment, molds, spare parts, infrastructure materials, etc., which enter the cooperation zone through the "first line" for their own use, are exempt from import duties, import value-added tax and consumption tax, and are bonded in other circumstances; For example, the transfer of bonded goods to individuals is subject to import duties, import value-added tax and consumption tax, and domestic value-added tax and consumption tax, and the transfer of duty-free goods to other tax-exempt importers does not need to pay additional taxes, and the transfer of tax-exempt goods to non-tax-exempt importers requires additional taxes, and the transfer of bonded goods to other entities can be bonded and transferred; Import duties, import value-added tax and consumption tax are levied on bonded goods entering the mainland through the "second tier". Goods processed in the Co-operation Zone with a value-added value of 30% or more can apply for exemption from import duties when entering the Mainland, and only import value-added tax and consumption tax will be levied; If the goods enter the cooperation zone through the "second line", they will be regarded as exports, and the VAT and consumption tax refunds will be implemented, and export duties will be levied.
In terms of items, non-short-term multiple-trip passengers will be more free to carry when entering the cooperation zone through the "first line". At present, in addition to the prohibition and restriction of entry into the country by the state, passengers who enter the Co-operation Zone for the first time for the first time within 15 days can be released duty-free if they enter the Co-operation Zone from Macao through the Hengqin Port, and meet three conditions: self-use, reasonable quantity, and no more than the duty-free limit (the limit for mainland residents is RMB 5,000, and for non-resident passengers from Hong Kong and Macao is RMB 2,000). Beyond the above range, the customs will collect the corresponding taxes. After the closure and operation, it only needs to meet the conditions of self-use and reasonable quantity to be released tax-free, and the duty-free limit is placed in the "second line" management. Duty-free goods entering the Mainland through the "second tier" will be released duty-free if they are for their own use, in reasonable quantities, and do not exceed the duty-free limit (RMB 8,000 for mainland residents and RMB 2,000 for non-resident passengers from Hong Kong and Macao). If it exceeds the above range, the customs will collect the corresponding tax; If a passenger enters and exits the cooperation zone multiple times within 15 days, only the necessary items for the journey will be released duty-free. In addition, according to the policy, Macao residents who study, work, start businesses and live in the Co-operation Zone can bring a certain weight of animal and plant products into the Co-operation Zone once a day through the Hengqin Port.
Zhong believes that the policy will bring benefits to business entities, residents and tourists in Hengqin and Macao. For example, duty-free (bonded) goods are applicable to a wide range of subjects, which is conducive to the import of duty-free (bonded) goods by various business entities in the cooperation zone; The scope of duty-free (bonded) goods is no longer limited to "use-related to production", which is beneficial to business entities with imported machinery and equipment for their own use; Enterprises can temporarily import MICE exhibits on a bonded basis, which can be shipped back to Macao after the event, which is conducive to the launch of the "One Exhibition, Two Places" activities in Hengqin and Macao, and also facilitates the bonded storage, processing and assembly of goods from Macao's processing and manufacturing industries in the Co-operation Zone to re-export the goods after bonded storage, processing and assembly. In addition to the current standard of 5,000 yuan for entry duty-free quota, the policy will increase the duty-free quota for entering the mainland through the "second tier" to 8,000 yuan, which will boost Macao's retail industry and enhance the tourism popularity of Hengqin and Macao.
The way to enter and exit the island has changed, and "dynamic buses" will be introduced
Li Ziwei, director of the Economic Development Bureau, said that in order to promote the implementation of the management of the cooperation zone, support the implementation of the fiscal and taxation policies and regulatory measures of the cooperation zone, and realize the operation and effective supervision of the cooperation zone, the executive committee of the cooperation zone relies on the "digital first" government cloud platform of Guangdong Province and the "single window" of China (Guangdong) International to build a public service platform for smart ports in the cooperation zone.
The public service platform is supported by big data services, with six major applications such as public service, customs clearance facilitation, credit management, duty-free commodity traceability, intelligent management services and risk prevention and control as the core, and builds a digital, intelligent and integrated cross-departmental, cross-industry and cross-regional port comprehensive management service system. The platform supports multiple languages such as simplified Chinese, traditional Chinese, English, Portuguese, etc., and the homepage includes functional modules such as dynamic information, business handling, policies and regulations, etc., providing consulting services, service progress inquiry, traffic guidance, quick search and other convenient services. The business processing module displays the business functions of personal services and enterprise services according to user categories.
Up to now, the "second-line" channel credit pass list declaration function has been opened, and enterprises, social organizations and their staff in the district, and residents of Hengqin can voluntarily and independently declare through the public service platform. Tourists and visitors driving vehicles in and out of the cooperation zone, the cooperation zone is actively studying, and will be released to the public after clarification.
Wang Yun, deputy director of the Urban Planning and Construction Bureau of the cooperation zone, said that in order to solve the traffic pressure of the second-line passages out of the area after the closure and operation, the bureau will optimize the traffic organization and flow lines around the passages in each exit area according to the functional positioning of each channel, and increase guidance and diversion measures. Secondly, cooperate with the Public Security Bureau to jointly formulate a plan for traffic emergency organization and control measures to ensure the smooth operation of traffic out of the area. Third, strengthen the operation organization and arrangement of public transportation after the closure and operation, and provide public transportation travel guarantee. He mentioned that the dynamic bus project will be promoted to run online, that is, to take the way of online bus operation, in order to improve the efficiency of public transport vehicles, "At present, we are conducting a full range of road tests, and after the test is stable, it will be put into operation, and after the operation, it will cover the whole cooperation zone, with about 129 stations." ”
Text and picture reporter Qian Yu.
Link: "Second Line" channel access function, access time and credit access list.
The passage functions and time of the "second line" passage from the cooperation zone to the mainland (out of the island) are as follows:
1) Hengqin Bridge "second line" channel.
Trucks (including engineering vehicles) are prohibited from passing; The rest of the vehicles and pedestrians are passable.
Access: All day.
2) Hengqin Tunnel "Second Line" Passage.
Trucks (including engineering vehicles) and passenger cars.
Access: All day.
3) The "second line" channel of the deep well channel.
Only tourist buses and registered buses are passed.
Passage hours: 06:00 to 24:00.
4) The "second line" passage of the Shizimen Tunnel.
Only passenger cars are allowed to pass for the record.
Passage time: 08:00 to 24:00.
5) Hengqin Wharf "second line" channel.
The passage time is subject to the actual schedule of the ship.
6) Guangzhou-Zhuhai Urban Rail Extension Line Hengqin Station, Chimelong Station "Second Line" Channel.
The travel time is subject to the actual operation schedule of the train.
vii) Miscellaneous. 1.Passage from the Mainland to the Co-operation Zone (to the island) shall be implemented in accordance with the current regulations.
2.The above "second-line" channel passage function and passage time arrangement of the cooperation zone will take effect from the date of customs closure and operation of the cooperation zone, and will be notified separately if there is any change.