Cabotage Law Coordinately Applied Based on ‘One Country, Two Systems’ in Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao gba

Abstract

Abstract In order to promote the internal cooperation and coordinated development of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (gba), it is necessary to coordinate and unify the distinct legal systems involved, especially to provide uniform transportation laws and regulations between ports. However, if the gba wants to establish a coordinated and unified shipping legal system, there are challenges due to interregional legal differences. These differences are rooted in legal systems of the three regions under the basic national policy of ‘one country, two systems’ and apply differently, leading the difficulties in balancing different interests. To achieve the strategic position and target of the gba, a key area to improve is freight among the ports in the gba which form an international shipping hub. There are many ports with large throughput in the gba, and they are also big ports for cargos import and export or transit. However, the cargoes are without deregulated movement among them. Therefore, the problems of different cabotage laws in the three places need to be solved to make the positive effects of cargoes’ free movement be realized in the gba. A coordinated and unified special shipping scheme can be established in gba by application of the regional cabotage law. This has the potential to deliver consistency in cabotage law, thereby eliminating restrictions and thresholds, simplifying procedures and reducing costs, so as to enhance the overall strength of the gba and help it to become an international shipping super zone.