While there was no official clarification, sources said the bridge was likely to open on the day of the ceremony, but one added: “We are still awaiting confirmation from the mainland authorities – there may be a last-minute change.”

Eddie Choi, a spokesman for coach operator One Bus Hong Kong Macau, which runs a fleet of 19 vehicles between the two cities, complained about the short notice.

“At about 5pm today, we received a notice from the government that there would be a ceremony in Zhuhai,” Choi said. “We’ve asked Transport Department officials whether it means the bridge will open the same day. They had no clue.”

He added that the rushed arrangement had put the transport sector in a difficult situation.

“This is a mega project. All the stakeholders have been expecting it with great anticipation. We hoped to have ample time to make manpower arrangements and to promote our new coach services,” he said.

“At such short notice and without any details, how can we make the necessary logistic arrangements? It will cause chaos and great inconvenience to the passengers.”

The government source said the opening date was announced at short notice because of security requirements for Xi. He pointed out that in 2007, then-President Hu Jintao attended the opening of the Shenzhen Bay border crossing and Shenzhen Bay Bridge.

Hong Kong lawmakers were expected to visit the city’s section of the bridge on Saturday, after a three-day drill by the three involved governments in late September. The drill tested the cross-border facilities and road links.

The sources said around 800 customs and immigration officers were ready to start work at the Hong Kong control point of the bridge on the 130-hectare artificial island to the northeast of the airport at Chek Lap Kok.

Police install anti-terrorism spy cameras on Hong Kong mega bridge

A new X-ray facility, costing tens of millions of dollars, that could simultaneously screen two cross-border container lorries and produce high-resolution images would be used at the control point, they said.

The bridge will provide a fast lane to the western part of the Pearl River Delta, Guangdong and Guangxi. A trip between the Kwai Chung Container Port and Zhuhai would be reduced from about 3½ hours to an hour and 15 minutes.

Preparations for the ceremony were under way on the artificial island at Zhuhai Port, a source familiar with the situation said. It was understood Zhuhai public security officials had been instituting security measures at the port over the past two weeks.

Xi was expected to visit Guangdong as early as this Saturday, several sources close to the provincial and Shenzhen authorities told the Post.

Details of the president’s itinerary remained unclear for security reasons, but sources said it would include a visit to the renowned Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou.

Six contractors for Hong Kong mega bridge each fined over fatality

The presidential trip, the subject of much speculation this year, would be highly symbolic in marking the 40th anniversary of China’s landmark economic reforms and opening-up policy.

The southern economic powerhouse of Guangzhou was the lead runner in the reforms, with Shenzhen chosen as the first special economic zone to test out market-oriented policies.

It was also the destination of Xi’s maiden visit outside Beijing after taking power in late 2012, and was seen as a strong signal of his support for greater market-oriented reforms.

Additional reporting by Nectar Gan, Choi Chi-yuk and He Huifeng