A row has broken out between Hong Kong tycoon Henry Fok Ying-tung and Guangzhou authorities over a bridge Mr Fok said he helped build 13 years ago. Guangzhou newspapers reported at the weekend how Mr Fok told Wang Zechu, a Guangzhou People's Congress representative, of the $10 million he paid towards construction of the Luoxi Bridge in Panyu city. The reports said the money raised by Mr Fok - and $2 million donated by the family of Macau Chief Executive Edmund Ho Hau-wah - should have been sufficient to cover construction costs. But it has emerged that the bridge's owner, the Panyu Government, still owes bank loans 13 years after the bridge opened. The reports said if the bridge had been paid for by Mr Fok and Mr Ho's family the Panyu Government should not have needed a loan - and should not have been collecting tolls for the past 13 years. Under the Chinese Government's policies at the time, overseas donations were made in kind instead of cash. The Guangzhou-based New Evening Express said the $12 million was used to buy construction materials. The report said that through effective management, the materials should have been valued at $70 million when construction started. The matter is being investigated by the Guangzhou People's Congress. Mr Fok is a vice-chairman of top advisory body the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. He and Guangzhou Government officials were unavailable for comment yesterday.
