The Chinese central government has reportedly increased its supervision over Macau’s progress in co-developing the Hengqin region with the Guangdong province. This observation is fueled by the recent visit of Beijing’s top official, Xia Baolong, to the special development zone. Xia is tasked with overseeing affairs related to Macau and Hong Kong, and his visit is seen as a critical move by Beijing.

Analysts suggest that Xia’s visit to Hengqin demonstrates Beijing’s commitment to advancing national development plans. His presence could also be interpreted as a subtle caution to Hong Kong to stay aligned with the country’s strategic development blueprint.

Xia Baolong is the head of both the Communist Party’s Hong Kong and Macau Work Office and the State Council’s Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office. He accompanied Chinese President Xi Jinping on a tour to the gaming hub in December last year, commemorating the 25th anniversary of the city’s administrative handover.

During his visit, President Xi stated that Beijing had chosen to develop Hengqin to diversify Macau’s economy. However, he cautioned against implementing projects that did not align with this strategy.

Lau Siu-kai, an advisor at the semi-official think tank, the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macau Studies, commented that Beijing holds high hopes for Hengqin. According to Xi, the region is vital for the economic growth and industrial diversification of the gaming hub.

Lau added that Xia’s trip aimed to ensure the proper execution of his directives and to encourage Macau to expedite the development of Hengqin in collaboration with Guangdong province.