Hong Kong needs agreement with China, Macau over bridge

Transport officials in Hong Kong have said that the region cannot independently determine when the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-
Macau Bridge (HZMB) will open, and that they must commit to a deadline shared with mainland China and Macau.
The under-secretary for transport and housing, Yau Shing Mu, said initial talks with Zhuhai and Macau had begun in September but that no opening date had been decided. He said that the HKSAR government would meet with mainland Chinese and Macau officials in December to discuss the matter.
“We will need an agreement among the three governments,” he said on Friday, cited by the South China Morning Post.
At a Legislative Council meeting tomorrow, the Hong Kong government will seek approval for an additional HKD 5.46 billion to build structures on an artificial island near Hong Kong International Airport.
The requested HKD 5.46 billion would, according to Director of Highways Lau Ka Keung, cover the remaining works on the project – including settling claims for delays from the contractor, of which there are now 30 cases amounting to HKD 1.2 billion.
The supplement will add to the HKD 30.4 billion that the project has already secured.
Lau and the under-secretary for transport and housing both promised that the SAR would be able to meet its new target of completing Hong Kong’s section of the bridge by the end of 2017.
Lau added that the main works would be completed and ready for use by late 2017.
“We don’t think we will need to increase the budget,” he added, when asked about the possible need for future funding. Staff reporter