Macao citizens enjoy cross-border opportunities, dual-city lifestyle in Hengqin

A growing number of Macao citizens are embracing the opportunities for cross-border employment in Hengqin of Zhuhai City, south China's Guangdong Province, achieving professional growth while enjoying the convenience of a dual-city lifestyle.

One such individual is Hoi Peng, a Macao-born lawyer practicing in Hengqin. Since the establishment of the Guangdong-Macao In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin in 2021, Hoi has taken advantage of the new opportunities to open a joint venture law firm.

The firm offers cross-border legal services to clients and businesses in Macao and the mainland on Hong Kong- and Macao-related affairs.

"There are more opportunities in the (Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao) Greater Bay Area and In-depth Cooperation Zone, which provide a bigger stage for our work. In addition to opening a joint law firm, I also obtained the qualification to practice law in the Greater Bay Area, allowing me to handle cases on the mainland," said Hoi.

With her business flourishing, Hoi moved her family from Macao to Hengqin, embarking on a dual-city lifestyle that brings both professional opportunities and everyday convenience.

"It's a new world for us. I often recommend my friends to move to Hengqin. The living environment here is more spacious than in Macao, and it's incredibly convenient. For example, products ordered online are delivered directly to our doorstep," she said.

Like Hoi, Macao restaurateur Tong Sio Kun also reaped unexpected benefits of cross-border entrepreneurship. A few years ago, Tong opened a restaurant in Hengqin, supported by favorable policies like rent subsidies and business incentives.

With a focus on creating unique dishes, Tong's restaurant saw a significant increase in customer traffic. Within just a few months, she recouped her initial investment and made a profit.

"Over the past few years, we've seen returns, and our business has grown several times in size. I'm confident that I will open three more restaurants in Hengqin within the next two years," Tong said. In recent years, Macao citizens have found it increasingly easy to practice their professions on the mainland. Professionals such as tour guides, lawyers, architects, and pharmacists are now allowed to work across borders. In addition, culinary, beauty, and catering qualifications are mutually recognized between Guangdong and Macao.

As integration between Hengqin and Macao picks up speed, more and more Macao talents are choosing to live and work in Hengqin. By July this year, the number of Macao-funded enterprises in the In-depth Cooperation Zone had reached 6,365, up nearly 40 percent from three years ago. By September, more than 20,000 people from Macao were living and working in Hengqin.

Macao citizens enjoy cross-border opportunities, dual-city lifestyle in Hengqin

Macao citizens enjoy cross-border opportunities, dual-city lifestyle in Hengqin

Prakriti Mukherjee, an Indian PhD student in philosophy and religious studies at the University of Macau, embraces the city's unique cultural fusion and envisions building her future there.

She has lived in Macao for the last two and a half years and chose to pursue her PhD at the University of Macau to explore Chinese philosophy, religious studies, and the unique intersection of Eastern and Western cultures that the city offers.

"I chose to study in University of Macau because it has a department called Philosophy and Religious Studies. I come from a background of Chinese language and cultural studies, and I wanted to learn the philosophy of China and the religious studies, how it is done in China. This is the most important reason why I'm here. I can see the two different cultures meeting here: one is the Western culture and the other one is the Chinese culture. So, in terms of my educational purpose, it’s quite interesting and quite important," she said.

The student described Macao as a welcoming and fascinating place for foreigners, emphasizing its appeal to Westerners and her enjoyment of living there.

"Macao is actually very, very inviting [for] Western people, foreigners, and that is very important, I guess. For me, it's one of the very most interesting places that I can stay in, and I love to stay here," she said.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the return of Macao, which had been under centuries of Portuguese rule, to its motherland China.

Indian PhD student cherishes Macao's unique cultural blend