WORLD’S LONGEST SEA BRIDGE OPENS IN CHINA
55km crossing links Hong Kong, Zhuhai and Macau
PRESIDENT Xi Jinping opened the world’s longest sea bridge connecting Hong Kong, Macau and mainland China yesterday, as Beijing tightens its grip on its semi-autonomous territories.
The 55km crossing, which includes a snaking road bridge and underwater tunnel, links Hong Kong with the southern mainland city of Zhuhai and the gambling enclave of Macau, across the waters of the Pearl River Estuary.
Xi presided over an inauguration ceremony attended by Hong Kong’s and Macau’s city leaders at a new port terminal here.
“I declare the Hong KongZhuhai-Macau bridge officially open,” Xi said in a one-line address, as digital fireworks exploded on a screen behind him at the indoor ceremony, before leaving the stage immediately.
Supporters of the multi-billiondollar bridge promote it as an engineering marvel that will boost business and cut travel time, but critics say it is one more way to integrate Hong Kong into China as fears grow that the city’s cherished freedoms are being eroded.
China’s Vice-Premier Han Zheng characterised the bridge as part of the development of the Greater Bay Area, a Beijing-driven project to create an economic hub linking nine southern mainland cities to Hong Kong and Macau.
Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam said the bridge would transform Hong Kong from a “connector to a more active participant”.
It is the second major infrastructure project tying Hong Kong to mainland China to launch recently, after the opening of a high-speed rail link last month that sparked criticism that Hong Kong was giving away territory, with part of the terminus coming under mainland jurisdiction.