The border crossing between Macau and Hengqin Island should start operating round-the-clock soon, Macau media reports. It’s expected the decision will be announced at the ceremony marking the 15th anniversary of the Macao Special Administrative Region on December 20, according to Chinese-language newspaper Macao Daily News.

The publication reported that the building works at the border crossing at Lotus Bridge on Cotai are progressing quickly “in order to be completed before that date”.

Citing the administrator of the New Area of Hengqin Island, Niu Jing, Macao Daily News reported that from 2015 Macao vehicles with a single licence plate should be able to circulate on Hengqin.

The Macao government has leased a plot of land in Hengqin. The University of Macau has already opened its new campus there and Macao is also developing a Traditional Chinese Medicine Industrial Park in co-operation with Guangdong Province.

Macao has also established an area for small- and medium-sized enterprises to invest in Hengqing, introducing special policies to attract local companies.