A proposed bridge linking Hong Kong, Zhuhai and Macau should be extended to provide a link to Shenzhen, top Guangdong and Shenzhen officials said yesterday.
Guangdong Executive Vice-Governor Tang Bingquan said a so-called double Y-shaped bridge, which would link Hong Kong and Shekou, in Shenzhen, with Zhuhai and Macau, would bring huge economic benefits to the region.
Mr Tang's remarks outside the Guangdong People's Congress sparked fears the provincial government has made a U-turn on the project.
Earlier understandings between the province and Hong Kong and Macau governments favoured a single Y-shaped bridge linking the two special administrative regions and Zhuhai, without a landing point at Shenzhen. This plan has received the backing of a central government agency.
Mr Tang's call was echoed by Shenzhen acting mayor Li Hongzhong, who said there would be a huge increase in vehicles using the bridge if it linked to Shenzhen.
Mr Li said the economic returns of the bridge should determine its design.
'There is an issue of economic returns, how to make it faster for investors to recoup their investment,' he said.