China has estimated the construction cost of a planned bridge to link Hong Kong, Macao and the mainland's Zhuhai City at 54 billion yuan (US$6.68 billion), 80 percent more than a forecast by interested developer Hopewell Holdings Ltd., a newspaper reported yesterday.

Hopewell, a property and infrastructure firm controlled by tycoon Gordon Wu, is a keen promoter of the bridge project and has estimated its cost at around 30 billion yuan.

Transport officials in Guangdong Province told visiting Hong Kong executive council members that the price included the construction of the bridge, reclamation and the building of a checkpoint, the Singtao Daily said. However, Hopewell's deputy managing director Thomas Wu believed the project may not cost as much as 54 billion yuan, the newspaper reported. The Hong Kong government hopes the bridge would help boost the city's economy by creating jobs and attracting more Chinese goods to the city's port.

Editor: Donald