With a length of 55 kmthe HZMB" bridge - for ("Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge"), which now provides a physical overland link between the two cities. Hong Kong à Zhuhai and Macau is a hymn to the global economic powerhouse that the UK has become. Chinaa testament to its ability to innovate. The bridge cost a whopping 15.4 billion. Initially scheduled to open to the public in 2016, its inauguration has been delayed by two years following a number of technical problems. Work began in 2009.
The new structure provides a one-hour link between the three cities of Hong Kong, Zhuhai - the Chinese satellite city opposite Macao - and the former Portuguese territory. The bridge actually starts on the island of Lantau, in the immediate vicinity of theHong Kong international airportThis will further strengthen the catchment area of the Cathay Pacific and the alliance Oneworld.
The HZMB bridge is divided into several sections: the central structure, as it leaves Macao and Zhuhai, comprises a 29.6 km bridge, starting with an artificial island. This serves as a control point and immigration for China and Macau. The bridge then continues to reach a second artificial island and becomes a tunnel 6.7 km before re-emerging at the surface on a third artificial island and reaching Hong Kong's physical border. A motorway then takes vehicles to Hong Kong airport, with a junction to the rest of the former British metropolis' road network.
Economically, this HZMB mega-bridge will further integrate the two special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macao and the province of Guangdong, allowing southern China to dream of itself as a "new China". the Asian counterpart to the San Francisco Bay Area and its Silicon Valley. The bridge will virtually merge a total of nine cities in China, including the major metropolis of Shenzhen.
The bridge is part of a series of major structural works designed to further anchor Hong Kong to the rest of China. Other cross-border projects include the entire new rail link Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong high-speed rail link, the bridge, a third runway for Hong Kong international airport and a new Liantang-Heung Yuen Wai border crossing, due to open early next year.
The government believes that the bridge should be used by 9000 to 14000 vehicles per day and, above all, will significantly reduce the cost of transporting freight between the People's Republic of China and the two special regions of Hong Kong and Macao. According to the Hong Kong Association of Freight Companies, a convoy will cost on average a third less by road than by sea.
In order to stimulate traffic between the three cities via the super-bridge, the Chinese authorities have decided to apply particularly attractive rates: an average of twelve dollars for a private vehicle, including taxis, and 15 to 20 dollars for the shuttles used to cross the bridge and for coaches.
On the first official day of operation, 24 October, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge authorities recorded 2,300 vehicle journeys, including 1,300 to Zhuhai and Macau. Of the total, only 31 vehicles were carrying freight. In all, almost 23,000 people travelled on this first day.
Lantau, Hong Kong's new economic centreFor the business community, the creation of a physical link between Hong Kong, Macau and the People's Republic of China should above all contribute to the emergence of new decision-making centres in Hong Kong. It is probably the island of Lantau which will benefit the most from this new physical configuration in the region. This island to the west of Hong Kong has already been booming since the opening of the new airport and the new port of Hong Kong. Disneyland as well as the exhibition centre are also located in Lantau. The arrival of the bridge nearby makes Lantau the new logistics centre for the entire former British colony. From Zhuhai in the People's Republic of China, the airport and Lantau are only a 45-minute drive away, compared with the distance between Lantau and Zhuhai. four hours earlier. Lantau itself is only 30 minutes from Hong Kong by train, particularly since the opening of a new rail link to Sha Tin-Central. The island is also considered to be Hong Kong's third-largest business centre, a position that is set to become even stronger in the future, as the government plans to reclaim land from the sea to the east of the island, eventually creating a single territory with Hong Kong Island. Lantau is also closer to mainland China and Macau, with the advantage of being able to make all the border formalities prior to official entry into the People's Republic of China. The launch of the TGV line between Hong Kong and Shenzhen has also helped to simplify border crossing formalities, as for the first time travellers can pass through People's Republic of China immigration controls directly on the territory of the former British colony. This brings Hong Kong ever closer to the mother country. Finally, for the business traveller Finally, Lantau offers the advantage of cheaper accommodation than the city. Rooms in all categories of establishment are available for between €100 and €250 on average, compared with between €170 and €500 in Central or Kowloon. |
