HK to Macau bridge gets OK
Source: Agencies |
November 19, 2011, Saturday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
CONSTRUCTION of one of China's largest infrastructure projects - a bridge from Hong Kong to Macau - is finally set to begin following years of delays over its environmental impact, after authorities in Hong Kong yesterday won US$6.3 billion of funding.
Hong Kong legislators on the city's finance committee voted to approve a government request for an extra HK$48.5 billion in funding to begin construction of the bridge spanning the mouth of the Pearl River, from Hong Kong to Zhuhai and the gambling hub of Macau, that could bring jobs and billions in economic benefits.
The 30-kilometer Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau bridge was first proposed nearly 20 years ago to bolster southern China's integration and logistics, while potentially sparking a new wave of manufacturing in the western part of the Pearl River Delta that remains relatively less developed.
But legal challenges over its environmental impact, as well as technical and cost uncertainties, delayed the project.
"This reflects the people's wishes that such large-scale infrastructure projects should begin and not be repeatedly delayed," said Eva Cheng, Hong Kong's secretary for transport and housing, after the funding approval.
"It will enhance Hong Kong's competitiveness and create employment."
A legal challenge from a single Hong Kong resident stalled a cargo and passenger link for more than a year until the case was overturned in September.
Cheng said work would be speeded up and expected the bridge project to be completed by 2016 as planned.
The project includes a multi-lane bridge, plus artificial islands, undersea tunnels, viaducts and checkpoints with road and rail links that would bring the total cost to above US$13 billion.
Hong Kong legislators on the city's finance committee voted to approve a government request for an extra HK$48.5 billion in funding to begin construction of the bridge spanning the mouth of the Pearl River, from Hong Kong to Zhuhai and the gambling hub of Macau, that could bring jobs and billions in economic benefits.
The 30-kilometer Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau bridge was first proposed nearly 20 years ago to bolster southern China's integration and logistics, while potentially sparking a new wave of manufacturing in the western part of the Pearl River Delta that remains relatively less developed.
But legal challenges over its environmental impact, as well as technical and cost uncertainties, delayed the project.
"This reflects the people's wishes that such large-scale infrastructure projects should begin and not be repeatedly delayed," said Eva Cheng, Hong Kong's secretary for transport and housing, after the funding approval.
"It will enhance Hong Kong's competitiveness and create employment."
A legal challenge from a single Hong Kong resident stalled a cargo and passenger link for more than a year until the case was overturned in September.
Cheng said work would be speeded up and expected the bridge project to be completed by 2016 as planned.
The project includes a multi-lane bridge, plus artificial islands, undersea tunnels, viaducts and checkpoints with road and rail links that would bring the total cost to above US$13 billion.
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