Economic benefits of bridge linking Hong Kong, Zhuhai and Macau could be huge, experts tell debate
Debate hears spin-offs from snag-hit HK$117 billion project could be huge
The massive 42km bridge linking Hong Kong, Zhuhai and Macau is on the road to success despite delays and problems with the drifting of an artificial island in the Hong Kong construction sector, a debate on the project heard yesterday.
The South China Morning Post's latest Redefining Hong Kong debate asked whether the bridge is an expensive white elephant or a cash cow.
Allen Ha Wing-on, a member of Lantau Development Advisory Committee and chief executive of AsiaWorld-Expo, said the bridge could turn Lantau Island into a tourism and business hub with potential to create jobs for the residents of Tung Chung.
Stephen Wong Yuen-shan, an adjunct university economics lecturer of the Chinese University of Hong Kong said: "The bridge is the hardware, it's not the silver bullet to solve every problem we have. But, it's better to have it than not."
READ AND VIEW MORE: Three cities, one bridge
According to the Highways Department, the city is expected to pay more than HK$117 billion for the entire bridge project.
About 40 per cent of that HK$117 billion, or HK$46 billion, will go towards the construction of the Tuen Mun-Chek Lap Kok Link, an alternative land route to access to Hong Kong International Airport.