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SCMP Reporter

The proposal to build a bridge linking Hong Kong, Macau and Zhuhai needed careful study because it involved environmental issues, the Guangdong governor said yesterday.

'Not yet - it needs to be studied cautiously as it involves ecological issues,' Lu Ruihua said after meeting Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa in Guangzhou yesterday. He did not elaborate.

Last night Mr Tung also met the newly appointed Guangdong party secretary, Zhang Dejiang, formerly secretary of the Zhejiang Provincial Committee.

Mr Zhang's predecessor, Li Changchun, was promoted to sit on the nine-member Politburo Standing Committee at the 16th party congress last month.

The South China Morning Post  reported on Friday that the SAR government was set to recommend the 29km bridge to Beijing. A feasibility study is expected to be completed by the end of the month.

Lam Woon-kwong, director of the Chief Executive's Office, quoted Mr Zhang as saying the bridge would not only benefit the Pearl River Delta but also western and northern Guangdong.

But he said the State Development Planning Commission was still studying the bridge. 'We can't force them to give a timetable. It is a complicated project.'

Mr Lam said it was understandable for Guangdong not to commit itself immediately.

'Most of the bridge will be built within Guangdong province. They need to study if the bridge will adversely affect the tidal flow in the Pearl River Delta region. It may cause flooding if the water flow is blocked.'

He ruled out the possibility of construction starting before the end of next year.

'Even if a decision is reached now, you need time to conduct a full-scale feasibility study and invite tenders.'

Mr Lam said the leaders had exchanged views on a wide range of cross-border issues, including traffic, tourism, education, the logistics industry and exchanges of professionals.

He said Mr Lu and Mr Tung did not specifically tackle the issue of round-the-clock operation of the border checkpoints, even though both sides agreed in principle to speed up the flow of passengers and cargo.

'This has never been a top priority for us,' Mr Lam said.

He said there had been no complaints from people unable to cross the border checkpoints after they close at midnight. Rather, many businessmen were unhappy at spending three hours travelling between the two sides. Mr Lam said the authorities would prefer to speed up passenger flow during peak hours.

Yesterday's meeting was the first between Mr Tung and Guangdong leaders since Premier Zhu Rongji said on his visit to Hong Kong last month that both sides needed to step up co-operation.

Before yesterday's meeting Mr Tung said: 'We hope that we can step up efforts to enhance Guangdong-Hong Kong co-operation.'

Mr Lu said the SAR and Guangdong agreed that the Pearl River Delta region needed to be developed further.

It is understood Mr Tung's visit was also a courtesy call on Mr Lu because the governor is expected to be moved to another post in March.

Mr Tung will visit Beijing on Monday for his annual duty visit. A government spokesman said yesterday the chief executive would brief Beijing leaders on developments in Hong Kong during the three-day trip.



Governor is wary over bridge proposal