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Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge
Hong KongPolitics

Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau bridge ‘scientifically proven to be safe’, Carrie Lam says

Hong Kong leader moves to allay fears over bridge safety days after protective blocks appear to drift away from artificial island, leaving sea tunnel threatened 

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Lam has promised to seek more “scientific” information to help allay public fears over the bridge. Photo: Edward Wong
Sum Lok-kei

Hong Kong’s leader moved to allay public fears on Friday over the structural integrity of the “world-class” bridge linking the city to Macau and Zhuhai, calling its stability “scientifically proven”, even as her own transport chief said workers needed more time to investigate the matter.

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Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor’s comments came in response to photographs taken by the Post on Wednesday, which showed that wave-absorbing concrete blocks, known as dolosse, had drifted away from one of the artificial islands they were designed to protect.

The apparent movement raised concerns that the undersea tunnel connected to the island could collapse because of insufficient protection. 

However, those concerns were dismissed by mainland China’s Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge (HZMB) Authority, which is managing the multibillion-dollar project. A senior engineer at the Highways Department is deputy chairman at the authority.

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Speaking at a public event on Friday, Lam said the construction quality of the bridge was not in doubt.

“The stability of construction works is a scientifically proven thing, so I hope the press and commentators can read the experts’ explanations before making comments,” Lam said, without elaborating on what the proof might be.

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“I hope that just because some individuals have taken photos, or made some comments, that everyone will not jump in and doubt the project’s design,” Lam added.

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