The proposed Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge will generate substantial economic benefits, Secretary for the Environment, Transport & Works Dr Sarah Liao says, adding its funding arrangement is under study and its impact on the environment will be kept to a minimum.

Speaking in the Legislative Council Panel on Transport today, Dr Liao said progress has been made on the bridge project. Experts from the Mainland, Hong Kong and Macau recommended in their April meeting the northern bridge-cum-tunnel alignment  with landings at San Shek Wan on Lantau, Gongbei in Zhuhai and A Perola in Macau.

Director of Highways Mak Chai-kong noted the northern alignment will be the most cost-effective among the three alignments proposed. It will also have the least disturbance to the ecology, as the bridge structure in the form of a viaduct will not touch any land area of Lantau upon landing, and it will span across the San Shek Wan headland.

Project to comply with environmental laws

Dr Liao pledged the possible environmental impact of the bridge project will be assessed in detail, and the construction of the bridge will fully comply with environmental protection laws.

On funding arrangements, Dr Liao said the bridge's Advanced Work Co-ordination Group intends to involve private-sector participation in funding and operating the bridge. Preparations to invite expressions of interest are underway to test the interest in the market and gauge views from the market on possible arrangements.

She also ruled out the possibility of including rail in the project as the move would not be cost-effective and would lead to a surge in construction costs.

Turning to connections on Lantau, Mr Mak said four alignment options for the eastern section of the North Lantau Highway Connection, with construction costs ranging from $4 billion to $10 billion, are worth exploration.

For the section of the alignment west of the airport, preliminary assessment reveals an option in the form of a viaduct along the Airport Channel would have less of an environmental impact than other options.

A sum of about $9.72 billion has been set aside for the connecting roads, and works are scheduled to start in mid-2007.

Dr Liao said the co-ordination group will submit its report to the Central Government for consideration next month. At the same time, the Environment, Transport & Works Bureau will seek $26.8 million from LegCo for the conceptual design and technical studies of the bridge project. Its construction would begin no sooner than early next year, she added.