A collaborative mechanism, the community governance center + Macao associations, developed by the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin to resolve cross-border urban disputes, has been selected as one of the top ten innovative cases at the 4th China Urban Governance Innovation Awards held recently in Beijing.
The awards, focusing on core issues in urban governance, showcased pioneering practices and exploratory achievements across Chinese cities in the new era. The case submitted by Hengqin stood out among 471 high-quality entries submitted nationwide.
In recent years, as the Hengqin-Macao integration deepened, disputes involving Macao residents and diverse public demands have increased. In response, the Political and Legal Affairs Office of Hengqin pioneered a cooperative mechanism that links its comprehensive community governance centers with patriotic Macao community associations.
Under this framework, Macao mediators familiar with the social, cultural, and legal environments of both sides have been stationed at governance centers, and dedicated windows for Macao-related dispute mediation have been established. This allows conflicts to be resolved—and residents' feedback to be collected—in ways that are familiar and accessible to Macao citizens.
The practice has effectively narrowed the perceptual gap between residents in Hengqin and Macao, improved the efficiency of dispute resolution and social governance, and fostered an open, dynamic, and transparent working mechanism, contributing to a harmonious, integrated, and collaborative environment for co-governance between the two sides.
Reporter | Guo Chuhua
Photo | Hengqin Online
Editor | Hu Nan, James Campion, Shen He
