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Transformation begins on Hengqin Island
By Chen Hong (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-12-17 11:37
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SHENZHEN: Four massive projects launched Wednesday on Hengqin Island will give a facelift to an island currently scattered with farmland and banana trees.
It is another significant step in the development of the Zhuhai area of Guangdong province into a major business zone, one day after construction started on the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge.
The island, the largest of 146 islands in Zhuhai linked to Macao by bridge, got approval from the central government in mid-August to be China's third State-level strategic new zone, after Shanghai's Pudong district and Tianjin's Binhai area.
About 12.6 billion yuan ($1.8 billion) will be invested to boost the road network, underground pipe network, dykes and landscaping on the island.
Construction is due to be completed by 2013, according to the island's management commission, which was also officially put into operation Wednesday. Another 12 billion yuan will be used for eight high-efficient gas-fired generating units, which will supply green energy to the island by 2012.
Two companies will invest 38 billion yuan to build a modern commercial center by 2020 and 10 billion yuan to build a tourism resort by 2012.
"The Hengqin New Area will be a new platform to promote closer cooperation between Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao. It's also a new highlight of the western bank area of the Pearl River estuary," said Wan Qingliang, vice-governor of Guangdong, in the launching ceremony.
According to the blueprint, Hengqin Island will achieve 120,000 yuan per capita GDP by 2015, which will be raised to 200,000 yuan by 2020.
The population is expected to increase to 120,000 by 2015 and 280,000 by 2020. Industries will focus on business services, leisure, tourism, education, and research and development as well as high technology.
