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3 September 2010 16:06
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University of Macau proposes expansion of campus to Hengqin Island Print E-mail
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Macau, China, 8 Apr - Representatives of the University of Macau (UM) on Monday presented a proposal to build part of its campus on Hengqin Island, in the municipality of Zhuhai, next to Macau, with the objective of ensuring its future expansion.

The UM project was presented to the Legislative Assembly by the president of its council, Daniel Tse Chi Wai, its rector, Zhao Wei and vice rector, Alex Lai Iat Long.

Daniel Tse Chi Wai said the idea was that the projected Hengqin campus would keep the university's legal system, charter and other regulations intact - and this in spite of the fact that the campus would be located in a mainland Chinese jurisdiction.

The representatives of the UM also told members of the Legislative Assembly they hoped to run the university's planned campus on Zhuhai's Hengqin Island in line with Macau's legal, financial and fiscal systems.

The Macau Post Daily reported Tuesday that the campus on the eastern coast of Hengqin - which lies opposite Taipa and Coloane - is planned to cover an area of between one and 1.4 square kilometres.

According to Daniel Tse Chi Wai, the Hengqin campus would have room for up to 15,000 students, comprising 70 percent undergraduates and 30 percent postgraduates.

The university's Taipa campus covers some 53,152 square metres, with only a total of 6,608 students.

Hengqin Island is about triple the size of the 29.2 square-kilometre Macau Special Administrative Region (MSAR).

The UM representatives maintained that the campus in Hengqin could "solve the problem of congestion" on the present campus in Taipa and "bring benefits for the long-term development of the institution."

According to the UM, the future campus could cater for six to nine faculties, eight to 10 residential colleges and two to four scientific research bases, "thus offering an excellent academic environment."

The UM also wants to kept the present campus in Taipa, which might be used for adult education courses after the opening of its Hengqin counterpart.

According to the presentation, the UM suggested building a bridge between the new campus and Macau so that people commuting between the two sides would not need to go through immigration checkpoints.

During the presentation to the Macau Assembly some lawmakers expressed concern about the expenditure that the Hengqin campus project would require from the Macau government.

The president of UM council, Daniel Tse Chi Wai, said that no budget has yet been drawn up because the Hengqin proposal was still a preliminary one.

In January the vice president of China, Xi Jinping, said during a visit to Macau that the diversification of the Special Administrative Region would include the development of the island of Hengqin.

"The central government has decided to develop the island, but the development will be launched only when preparatory works were fully completed," Xi said.

The development of Hengqin Island will provide new spaces for the diversification of Macau's economy, he said, adding that the central government will take Macau's needs into full consideration.

According to newspaper Ou Mun, the deputy governor of Guangdong also said that the government of the province located in the south of China created a dozen of working groups to develop the island.

The Chief Executive of Macau, Edmund Ho, said recently that the development of the island can bring enormous advantages to Macau and to its tourist sector, though stressed plans should not be carried out to quickly, noting "some of the steps being taken need some time to be able to realize the project."

(Macaunews)
 
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