The three areas of the China (Guangdong) Pilot Free Trade Zone should have their own characteristics, otherwise they won't be appealing and competitive, said Lim Ming Sum, president of Fuman (HK) Co. Ltd and a member of the 12th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, during the sessions of China's top legislature and political advisory body.

"Centered respectively on finance, land properties for both residential and commercial use, and education and culture, the three areas of Qianhai, Nansha and Hengqin should take advantage of their unique resources to avoid monotonic development and an uncompetitive environment," Lim said.

The development of the Guangdong pilot FTZ has made considerable progress. In Hengqin, for example, the number of registered enterprises currently exceeds 15,000. Additionally, the Hengqin area has initiated more than 40 policies, of which 17 have been selected to form the majority of Guangdong's 27 model policies for the rest of the province to follow suit.

Impressed by the new campus of the University of Macao, Lim gave high compliments to the construction of the 1.0926-square-kilometer educational site in Hengqin, 20 times larger than its original size in Macao.

"Occupying a large area in Hengqin, the new campus is pretty beautiful with orderly-arranged buildings," said Lim.

One year into Hengqin's development as an area of the Guangdong pilot free trade zone, the new area is now home to a number of projects, such as, the Chimelong International Ocean Tourist Resort, exhibition centers as well as educational projects.

Fixed investment in Hengqin reached 114.78 billion yuan (US$17.66 billion) by February of this year with several pivotal projects coming into operation.