the future Shenzhen Bay Bridge

Geographical situation of the corridor

Hong Kong's Chief Executive TungChee Hwa said in Hong Kong Thursday (August 28th) that a corridor linking Hong Kong and the adjacent Shenzhen in China's mainland would help the overall economic development of Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta (PRD) in China's mainland.

Tung made the remarks at a press conference after attending a foundation stone-laying ceremony in Shenzhen earlier Thursday for the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Western Corridor.

The five-kilometer-long corridor, in addition to the current three road links, is expected to be completed in 2005 and to bring a net economic benefit of 175 billion Hong Kong dollars (22.4 billion US dollars ) in the years to 2020.

Tung noted that the corridor would not only alleviate the traffic congestion problem between Hong Kong and the PRD, but also play an important role in helping to promote the overall development of PRD.

He disclosed that the first meeting of officials from Hong Kong, Macao and Zhuhai would be held Friday in Guangzhou, capital of the Guangdong province, to discuss the feasibility studies on a planned bridge to link the three cities.

Tung said that he had discussed economic issues with Chinese Vice Premier Zeng Peiyan, who officiated the ceremony on behalf of the Chinese central government Thursday morning.

Tung said that Zeng expressed confidence in Hong Kong's economic future.

The Hong Kong-Shenzhen Western Corridor is a dual three-lane expressway spanning Deep Bay on elevated structures, linking the road networks in Hong Kong via the Deep Bay Link at Ngau Hom Shek and in Shenzhen at Shekou.

Editor: Wing