IMAGINE A BRIDGE spanning the 30km or so of water dividing Macau and Lantau. This would make Macau a one-and-a-half-to-two-hour drive away from Hong Kong Island, just a little more than it takes to drive from Central to the northern end of the New Territories. A land link between these two SARs will cost money, and at present it is not clear that there is enough traffic to justify such an expensive project. It is not a new idea either, but it is one that is becoming increasingly attractive. Consider the situation a couple of years down the road after Macau's new casino operators are up and running. The new-generation casinos are expected to be much more family friendly (to the extent that casinos can be family friendly) and are expected to attract a new clientele who want the thrill of gambling without the associated sleaze. Along with the casinos there are plans to build leisure facilities that should increase tourist numbers not merely from the mainland, but from the region as a whole. By the time the new-style casinos establish themselves, the Disney theme park in Lantau should also have opened its gates. There is clearly scope for marketing Hong Kong and Macau as a joint tourist destination. With a road link, and provided border crossing procedures are simplified, visitors to Disney World could drive across to Macau in half an hour for a quick flutter. Conversely, after a long evening at the gaming tables, punters might wish to sample Disney's more wholesome offerings. The Macau Government is keen on building such a bridge, and sees the advantages of an easier link with Hong Kong. But Hong Kong officials tend to believe it is a good idea in principle while not seeing it as an urgent priority as far as tourism is concerned. Clearly there are synergies to be derived from a road link between Macau and Hong Kong. Hong Kong airport for one would be well positioned to benefit from the increased tourist flow into Hong Kong. But there are downsides. A link to Macau is probably the last thing the property market in Hong Kong needs. Housing in Macau costs a fraction of what it costs here, and there are those who will succumb to the charms of living in the more laid-back former Portuguese colony and commuting to Hong Kong. There are those in Macau who shudder at the thought of the changes that might come to their way of life if they were to be joined by a land link to big, brash Hong Kong. In the long run though, both territories can only benefit. Macau will have the advantage of closer connections with a more developed and faster growing economy, including easier access to Hong Kong's regional transport links. Macau hopes to attract small and medium-sized firms from abroad who wish to do business in China but who cannot afford to set up their offices in Hong Kong. With easy transportation, Hong Kong's banking, insurance and other industries could continue to offer their services to these firms. Hong Kong would also gain quicker access to the western end of the Pearl River delta through a land link with Macau. Assuming the planned high-speed rail link between Hong Kong and Guangzhou becomes reality, a road link to Macau will give Hong Kong easy access to all the main growth centres of the Pearl River delta - Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Macau and Zhuhai. This can only help Hong Kong achieve its ambition of being a focal point for transportation and commerce within the Pearl River delta. All we need is some vision. Thomas Abraham is the Post's Editor
