Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR), one of the most densely-populate cities in the world, holds a population of more than 670,000, an increase about 54 percent when it returned to China in 1999. Its GDP in 2018 was over 54.5 billion U.S. dollars, nearly eight times of that in 1999.  

Macao is growing, not only in the population, wealth, but also the area of land. 

Actually, it has nearly tripled the area from 11.6 square meters in 1912 to 32.9 square meters in September 2019.  

Located at the Pearl River estuary, southeast coast of Chinese mainland, the Macao SAR comprises the Macao Peninsula, Taipa Island and Coloane Island. The Macao Peninsula and Taipa are now connected by three bridges, while the two islands are linked by the Cotai reclamation. 

However, Macao is a place with extremely scarce land resources which couldn't meet the social needs of rapid development. Land reclamation is imperative, and Macao has never stopped its efforts to expand space for at least a century. 

Five new, multifunctional zones

A new leap in land reclamation has been made in the last decade.

The growing population and rising tourist numbers challenged the city's carrying capacity. The need to diversify its industries and balance the allocation of public resources such as education, medical care and transportation demanded further improvement in Macao's urban competitiveness.

In 2006, the Macao SAR government proposed the development plan of a "new urban district," and formally applied to the central government for land reclamation in 2008. The central government officially approved the application in November 2009, with a principle of "scientific planning, rational distribution and intensive use."

The five new zones, known as Zone A, B, C, D, E, will reclaim areas exceeding 350 hectares, lying roughly in the east and south of the Macao Peninsula and north of the Taipa Island.  

An appropriate amount of land in the new reclamation plan will be reserved for the development of related industries conducive to the diversification of the economy, excluding the gambling industry, said Chief Executive of the SAR Chui Sai On in the Policy Address of 2010. 

"Land shall be reserved for the construction of public housing and more public facilities such as cultural recreation, sports, social education and transportation infrastructure, for increasing the green space in Macao, strengthening environmental protection, improving the coastal landscape, expanding urban living space, and improving the living environment as well as the comprehensive living quality of residents," he pointed out.  

Each zone will take on different roles. Zone A, where reclamation work was completed in December, 2017, is the largest of the five zones with an area of about 138 hectares. 

It is expected to build commercial and residential community, infrastructure, waterfront park, public and social facilities to accommodate 100,000 residents and different industries, and as well to serve as an important joint connecting the Pearl River Delta and other cities, considering its location adjacent to the artificial island of the Zhuhai-Macao Border Crossing Facilities, and the Outer Harbor.  

Zone B, located in the maritime area south of the Macao Peninsula, is 47 hectares in size. It will be a centralized office area for the administrative and judicial organs of the SAR.  

Zone C, D, and E, respectively 33 hectares, 59 hectares and 73 hectares, will become important transportation hubs, and green and low-carbon communities. 

Zone C and D are now under reclamation and embankment construction, while the other three have all done with this process.   

The construction of the new district is an important measure to give full play to the advantages of "One Country, Two Systems," to alleviate the severe shortage of land resources and improve the quality of life, according to the central government. "This will help the Macao SAR cope with financial crisis, maintain steady and rapid economic development, and promote social harmony and stability."

Developing the marine industry

As a coastal city with a long history, Macao will rely its future development not only on the over-30-square-meter land area, but also the sea area.

In December 2015, the central government authorized Macao to manage 85 square kilometers of waters surrounding the SAR.

The SAR plans to "manage, utilize and develop the waters well," said the chief executive during an international conference on Macao's marine development in 2018. "It is not only the development goal of Macao, but also an integral part of building a maritime power."

This authorization "provides new conditions and opportunities for Macao to thrive from the sea," said Chui.

As listed early this year one of the four core cities in the development of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Macao will also seek more breakthroughs by "borrowing" lands, talents and resources.

Macao must seize the opportunity of the development of the Greater Bay Area, and jump out of the territorial restrictions, said Mi Jian, director of Policy Research and Regional Development Bureau. "It is almost impossible to seek big development or breakthrough within the currently crowded 32.9 square kilometers. The path and wisdom of 'borrowing' land for breakthrough is needed."