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1.Funding
standoff a threat to delta bridge
1. Funding
standoff a threat to delta bridge
GARY CHEUNG, SCMP 3 August 2005
The idea of building a bridge linking Hong Kong, Macau and Zhuhai
has hit an unexpected roadblock - reluctance of the Macau and Guangdong
governments to put money into the project.
The
holdup means construction on the proposed 28km cross-delta link
is unlikely to start this year, says academic and adviser to the
Guangdong government Zheng Tianxiang , of Zhongshan University in
Guangzhou.
He
is puzzled by the lack of progress on the project since a taskforce
comprising officials from Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau submitted
a report to Beijing on landing sites for the proposed bridge in
April. The taskforce agreed San Shek Wan on Lantau, Perola in Macau
and Gongbei in Zhuhai would be the landing points.
"I'm
worried that the project is behind the original schedule. It's unrealistic
for the construction of the bridge to start by the end of this year,"
Professor Zheng said.
The
professor, a member of the Guangdong government's expert panel on
infrastructure development, said the reluctance of the Macau government
and Guangdong authorities to put money into the project could threaten
its construction.
Hong
Kong's transport minister, Sarah Liao Sau-tung, said in April that
work on building he bridge would begin late this year or early next
year. She said the bridge could be completed by 2010. Chen Shanru
, director-general of the Guangdong Development and Reform Commission,
also said construction could start this year.
The
US$3.8 billion project will be put out to international tender after
approval by the central government.
The
Hong Kong government has said a public-private partnership may fund
the project.
It
usually takes at least three months to complete the bidding process.
A
spokeswoman for the Hong Kong Environment, Transport and Works Bureau
said the National Development and Reform Commission was finalising
a report on the project, to be submitted to the central government
for approval. "The commission is in the final stage of drafting
the report," the spokeswoman said.
The
bridge would make Zhuhai and Macau a 30-minute drive from Hong Kong.
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