The border checkpoints of Macao and the neighboring mainland city of Zhuhai opened at the same time on Wednesday.

The Gongbei checkpoint on Zhuhai's side previously opened at 7:30 a.m., half an hour later than the opening time of the checkpoint at the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR).

The delay, producing crowds at the gate of the Gongbei checkpoint, had long been causing inconvenience for border crossers.

At the third session of the 10th National People's Congress in March, 2005, four Macao-based NPC delegates brought up a proposal on simultaneous opening of the two checkpoints

On Feb. 9 this year, the General Administration of Customs formally reported to the NPC that the simultaneous opening of the checkpoints would start on March 1.

The measure was widely hailed here as an indication that the central government attaches great importance to Macao people's willingness.

(Xinhua News Agency March 1, 2006)