After the suspension of work on the Hong Kong portion of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, resulting from a legal challenge to the environmental impact study of the project, Yu Lie, deputy director of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Authority, said he was saddened by the interruption, but remains confident that the bridge will be finished on schedule in 2016.

"I feel sorry for the effect of the legal challenge. The construction schedule for the Hong Kong part was certainly affected, which will put more pressure on Hong Kong to catch up and complete the project in time," said Yu.

"As long as Hong Kong can catch up with its schedule, the whole project won't be delayed. In that case, the impact of the environment case would be limited," said Yu.

A landmark case brought by an elderly Hong Kong citizen appealed to the Court regarding the validity of the environmental impact study on the bridge, which forced the Hong Kong government to suspend construction of 78 related projects in January 2010. Later the Hong Kong government won the case on appeal, construction resumed in September 2010.

By then, the suspension had added another HK$6.5 billion to the budget.

"Hong Kong government has been hurrying the constructing schedule since. Will the case affect the project? ... I think Hong Kong is a legal society and we believed in legal justice," responded Adolph Leung, principal economist of Economic Analysis and Business Facilitation Unit of the Hong Kong government.

The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge will be the longest sea span in the world with a 35 kilometer span. It will also be the most difficult to build since it requires a 6 kilometer undersea tunnel. Starting from Zhuhai and directly to Lantau Island of Hong Kong, the bridge will reduce travelling time between the two cities from 4.5 hours to around 30 minutes.

"For the first time three cities joined in building such a giant infrastructure project, which is key to connecting the west coast of the delta with its east coastal line in Hong Kong," said Wang Wanping, chief economist of Zhuhai Development and Reform Bureau.

"The bridge will significantly promote regional economic integrity and rooster Hong Kong's position as financing and shipping center," said Wang.

michelle@chinadailyhk.com

(HK Edition 09/01/2012 page4)