Article 1 Objective and Basis The present Operational Guidebook is formulated in order to implement the Support Measures for the Development of Macao-funded Enterprises in the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin (hereinafter referred to as "the Support Measures").

Article 2 Scope and Conditions The Operational Guidebook is applicable to the assessment and issuance of all subsidies and rewards, as covered in the Support Measures, to Macao-funded enterprises.

Macao-funded enterprises should be legal persons or professional service institutions without legal personality in the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin (hereinafter referred to as "the Cooperation Zone").

Macao residents or legal persons lawfully incorporated in Macao and engaged in business operation for at least two years (hereinafter referred to as "Macao legal persons") should hold more than 25% of shares of the Macao-funded enterprises, and should satisfy one of the following requirements:

(i) The total ownership percentage of Macao residents is more than 25%;

(ii) The total ownership percentage of Macao legal persons is more than 25%;

(iii) For Macao-funded enterprises that involve investors of both Macao residents and Macao legal persons, their total ownership percentage is more than 25%;

Macao residents and Macao legal persons can hold the shares by way of direct or indirect ownership, with the exclusion of entrusted shareholding

Macao-funded enterprises eligible for the Support Measures should settle in the "office properties" or "commercial properties" confirmed and announced by the Economic Development Bureau of the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin (hereinafter referred to as "the Economic Development Bureau of the Cooperation Zone") upon information collection. The enterprises should be operated substantively in the Cooperation Zone, have opened business deposit account in banks of the Cooperation Zone, and have a substantive business address where regular personnel are employed.

Article 3 Competent Authorities The Economic Development Bureau of the Cooperation Zone is responsible for the organization and implementation of the Support Measures, the collection and assessment of applications, and the issuance of rewards. Applicant bodies must hand in application materials to the Economic Development Bureau of the Cooperation Zone.

Article 4 Collection of Information on Office and Commercial Properties

(I) Fundamental requirements

The property owners or their entrusted management units of the "office properties" and "commercial properties" (hereinafter referred to as "the carriers") are the applicant body and are required to submit the application materials to the Economic Development Bureau of the Cooperation Zone for information collection. Only upon confirmation and announcement can the settled-in Macao-funded enterprises enjoy the benefits of the Support Measures.

The "office properties" and "commercial properties" are properties owned or having been sold by developers to be covered under the Support Measures through an application. The property owners or their entrusted management units should be in charge of the central application submission and management.

The property owners or their entrusted management units of the carriers should collect the application materials of the Macao-funded enterprises, assess the materials at a preliminary stage, and submit them to the Economic Development Bureau of the Cooperation Zone.

(II) Application materials to be submitted by property owners or their entrusted management units

1. Application form for the confirmation of carriers (original);

2. Authorization for business operation in carriers (original) and authorization agreement on management (in which information about whether the lease agreement is executed by both the entrusted management unit and the Macao-funded enterprise should be explicitly included);

3. Copy of operation license (copy with official stamp);

4. Identity document(s) of legal representative(s)/ responsible person(s) (copy with official stamp);

5. Certificate of property ownership (copy with official stamp, with the original for verification);

6. Floor area and rental of the properties to be leased;

7. Other supporting materials for the application.

Article 5 Application Materials for Office Property Rent Subsidy

(I) Rental

The Economic Development Bureau of the Cooperation Zone employs a third-party institution to assess the rental of office properties in the Cooperation Zone, which will be used as a reference for the amount of the rent subsidy. In cases where the evaluated amount is higher than the actual rental, the subsidy will be calculated at a corresponding ratio based on the actual rental. During the rent-free period, no subsidy will be granted. An enterprise will only be granted for a maximum period of 36 consecutive months.

(II) Application materials

1. Application form for office property rent subsidy (original);

2. Copy of operation license (copy with official stamp);

3. Supporting material(s) of applicant body as a Macao-funded enterprise;

4. Identity document(s) of legal representative(s)/ responsible person(s) (copy with official stamp);

5. Applicant body's employee register, employment contracts, and social insurance payment record or individual income tax payment record for the last six months;

6. Lease agreement (including ownership certificate of the leased property), rent transfer voucher(s), rent payment invoice(s);

7. Applicant body's bank account information;

8. Other supporting materials for the application.

The Economic Development Bureau of the Cooperation Zone can verify the actual employee number of the enterprises and grant the subsidy based on the verification result.

(III) Lease term

According to Article 5 of the Support Measures, "the term of the lease agreement should be no less than three years", including the lease term of the office property executed by the Macao-funded enterprises in the Cooperation Zone before the implementation of the Support Measures.

Article 6 Application Materials for Commercial Property Rent Subsidy

(I) Rental

The Economic Development Bureau of the Cooperation Zone employs a third-party institution to assess the rental of commercial properties in the Cooperation Zone, and this will be used as a reference for the amount of the rent subsidy. In cases where the evaluated amount is higher than the actual rental, the subsidy will be calculated at a corresponding ratio based on the actual rental. During the rent-free period, no subsidy will be granted. An enterprise will only be granted for a maximum period of 36 consecutive months.

(II) Application materials

1. Application form for commercial property rent subsidy (original);

2. Copy of operation license (copy with official stamp);

3. Supporting material(s) of applicant body as a Macao-funded enterprise;  

4. Identity document(s) of legal representative(s)/ responsible person(s) (copy with official stamp);

5. Applicant body's employee register, employment contracts, and social insurance payment record or individual income tax payment record for the last six months;

6. Lease agreement (including ownership certificate of the leased property), rent transfer voucher(s), rent payment invoice(s);

7. Applicant body's bank account information;

8. Other supporting materials for the application.

(III) Lease term

According to Article 5 of the Support Measures, "the term of the lease agreement should be no less than three years", including the lease term of the commercial property executed by the Macao-funded enterprises in the Cooperation Zone before the implementation of the Support Measures.

Article 7 Application for Commercial Property Renovation Subsidy

(I) Application materials

1. Application Form (original);

2. Copy of operation license (copy with official stamp);

3. Supporting material(s) of applicant body as a Macao-funded enterprise;

4. Identity document(s) of legal representative(s)/ responsible person(s) (copy with official stamp);

5. Lease agreement (including ownership certificate of the leased property), rent transfer voucher(s), and rent payment invoice(s). If it is a self-owned property, an ownership certificate is required;

6. Copy of renovation construction contract(s) and relevant payment voucher(s), copy of invoice(s), and original of construction completion document(s) and special audit report by a third party (copy with official stamp);

7. Applicant body's bank account information;

8. Other supporting materials for the application.

(II) Additional notes

1. Renovation subsidy covers hard renovations in seven main areas such as wall plastering, flooring, ceiling, carpentry, painting, fire protection, and heavy and light current electrical engineering, excluding soft renovations and renovation design.

2. In principle, the same commercial property may not reapply for renovation subsidy within three years by changing the applicant body. In case of special circumstances, the applicant body is required to provide adequate supporting materials for approval from the Economic Development Bureau of the Cooperation Zone.

3. Macao-funded enterprises may apply for the renovation subsidy when renting commercial property or purchasing self-operated commercial property.

4. Business owners who have received a renovation subsidy from the Hengqin New Area before will not be granted the renovation subsidy under the Support Measures.

5. The commercial property renovation subsidy will be issued over two years, with 50% of the grant per year. Upon completion of the renovation construction and official inauguration of the business, the Economic Development Bureau of the Cooperation Zone will issue the first batch as per the enterprise's application. In the second year, provided that the business is in normal operation, the Economic Development Bureau of the Cooperation Zone will issue the second batch as per the enterprise's application.

Article 8 Application for Brand Settlement Rewards

(I) Application materials

1. Application Form (original);

2. Copy of operation license (copy with official stamp);

3. Supporting material(s) of applicant body as a Macao-funded enterprise;

4. Identity document(s) of legal representative(s)/ responsible person(s) (copy with official stamp);

5. Investors of the applicant body shall be Macao enterprises that have been selected as "Macao Classic Brand", "Macao Distinctive Shops", or those selected by "Macao Ideas", "Michelin Guide" or "Black Pearl Restaurant Guide", and provide the proof of its capital contribution;

6. If Macao residents or Macao legal persons in cooperation with catering enterprises from other regions that are listed on the latest edition of "Michelin Guide", they should provide supporting documents proving that their partners have been listed on the "Michelin Guide";

7. Brand authorization letter (to authorize the Macao-funded enterprise in the Cooperation Zone to use the trade name, trademark, logo, and other brand information of the brand);

8. Applicant body's financial statements for the last 12 months (balance sheet, income statement, cash flow statement);

9. Applicant body's social insurance payment record for the last 12 months;

10. Applicant body's bank account information;

11. Other supporting materials for the application.

(II) Additional notes

1. In Article 7 of the Support Measures, the targets of the rewards refer to Macao-funded enterprises established in the Cooperation Zone.

2. The determining factor for whether the enterprises are registered as a "Macao Classic Brand", "Macao Distinctive Shop", or as a brand listed in "Macao Ideas", "Michelin Guide" or "Black Pearl Restaurant Guide" is determined upon the date when they are established for the first time in the Cooperation Zone. For Macao-funded enterprises established by Macao residents and Macao legal persons in cooperation with catering enterprises from other regions, which are listed in the latest edition of "Michelin Guide", the brand should authorize the Macao-funded enterprises to use the trade name, trademark, logo and other brand information of the brand.

Article 9 Application for Operation Rewards

(I) Application materials

1. Application Form (original);

2. Copy of operation license (copy with official stamp);

3. Supporting material(s) of applicant body as a Macao-funded enterprise;

4. Identity document(s) of legal representative(s)/ responsible person(s) (copy with official stamp);

5. Applicant's tax payment record for the last fiscal year;

6. Statistics from the Online Reporting Platform of National Bureau of Statistics of China;  

7. Applicant body's bank account information;

8. Other supporting materials for the application.

(II) Revenue statistics

The statistical data of an applicant body's operating income reported to the Online Reporting Platform of National Bureau of Statistics of China takes precedence.

(III) Additional notes

For Macao-funded enterprises that apply for the revenue rewards as stipulated in Article 9 of the Support Measures, on the Online Statistics Reporting Platform, they should be considered as above-scale Macao-funded enterprises newly included in the Platform for the first time after the implementation of the Support Measures. The above-scale Macao-funded enterprises which have been included in the platform before the implementation of the Support Measures may not apply for the revenue rewards.

For above-scale Macao-funded enterprises which have been included in the Online Statistics Reporting Platform before the implementation of the Support Measures, they can apply for revenue rewards in accordance with the article if the income of their major business activities meets the requirement of revenue growth.

Article 10 Application for R&D Subsidy

(I) Application materials

1. Application Form (original);

2. Copy of operation license (copy with official stamp);

3. Supporting material(s) of applicant body as a Macao-funded enterprise;

4. Identity document(s) of legal representative(s)/ responsible person(s) (copy with official stamp);

5. Special audit report on R&D expenditure with extra tax deduction before tax;

6. Applicant body's audited financial statements for the year of application (balance sheet, income statement, cash flow statement);

7. Applicant body's bank account information;

8. Other supporting materials for the application.

(II) Additional notes

1. Applicant bodies' annual R&D expenditure should be deemed as an investment with equity fund. When the applicant bodies' annual R&D expenses are calculated, the amount of any financial aid used by the applicant bodies should be deducted.

2. In case the Cooperation Zone releases subsidy scheme for the R&D expenditure of scientific and technological enterprises, the application will be subject to the requirements stipulated in the scheme.

Article 11 Application for Conference and Exhibition Subsidy

(I) Application materials

1. Application Form (original);

2. Copy of operation license (copy with official stamp);

3. Supporting material(s) of applicant body as a Macao-funded enterprise;

4. Identity document(s) of legal representative(s)/ responsible person(s) (copy with official stamp);

5. Contract or agreement for the purchase of exhibition booth by applicant body (the agreement should include the booth's coverage and price);

6. Applicant body's bank payment voucher(s);

7. Copy of invoice(s) for purchase of exhibition booth by applicant body;

8. Photo(s) of enterprise participating in the exhibition;

9. Applicant body's bank account information;

10. Other supporting materials for the application.

Article 12 Application Procedures

The Economic Development Bureau of the Cooperation Zone will process the applications every half year (refer to the application notices for specific dates). Macao-funded enterprises should submit their applications on time. Failure to do so will be viewed as voluntary abandonment of the rights. Macao-funded enterprises who apply for the support and benefits stipulated in the Support Measures shall not apply for any support or benefits of the same type in other policies introduced by the Cooperation Zone (or inherited from the Hengqin New Area).

Applicant bodies should prepare all the required materials according to the operating rules and hand them in to the Economic Development Bureau of the Cooperation Zone within the designated period. The Bureau will centrally collect the applications to assess the applicant bodies' qualifications and materials. Applications from ineligible applicant bodies will not be accepted. Where information is missing, applicant bodies will be informed once. Applications from eligible applicant bodies with all required materials will be accepted.

Article 13 Legal Responsibilities

Applicant bodies should ensure the integrity, authenticity, accuracy, and legality of their application materials, and bear relevant legal responsibilities for such materials. In case of any false materials for the purposes of defrauding the government of the support aids, the case will be inspected strictly according to relevant regulations; for severe cases, the applicants shall be held accountable before the law.

For property owners or their entrusted management units who executed false contracts with the reporting subject to obtain subsidies fraudulently, the filing requests of the owner (management) will not be accepted within three years and it will also be prohibited from applying for any support funds provided by the Cooperation Zone, and shall receive severe punishments in compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

Macao-funded enterprises must be operated according to laws and regulations. In case of being subject to criminal penalties or fines, forfeiture of illegal income, confiscation of illegal possessions and restrictions on production and business activities, orders for business suspension or termination, or administrative punishment with restrictions on business operationdue to violation of laws and regulations of China, the enterprises are prohibited from applying for the subsidies stipulated in the Support Measures.

Article 14 Right of Interpretation

The interpretation of the Operational Guidebook is at the sole discretion of the Economic Development Bureau of the Cooperation Zone.

(All information published in this section is authentic in Chinese. English is provided for reference only.)