Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture and Chairperson of the Tourism Development Committee (CDT) Alexis Tam led 41 members of the CDT to inspect the main structure of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) and the artificial island between Zhuhai and Macao on 21^st March.

The Executive Director of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Management Division, Wei Dongqing, said that the Bridge was expected to be operational for traffic by the end of this year and that the actual date of its official operation will be decided following discussions between the governments of the three regions. He introduced the Bridge to members of the CDT, while Deputy Director of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Management Division Tan Guangmin added that space was reserved in the east of the artificial island for the construction of tourist facilities. Thus, it is hoped that the governments of the three regions will be able to jointly devise a favourable policy for tourism development in the future.

Construction work on the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge was officially launched in 2009. The structure will be 55 kilometres long, with the main Bridge extending 29.6 kilometres. The Bridge - comprising a sea-crossing Bridge, artificial islands and underwater tunnel - is expected to be finished in 2017. It will be one of the world's longest sea-crossing Bridge-cum-tunnel roads with six lanes, immersed tube and sea-crossing Bridge connecting the east and west banks of the Pearl River, and will significantly reduce the travel time between the three regions to just one hour.

The Bridge will stimulate development of the logistics industry, strengthen co-operation and regional development, as well as the exploration of new multi-destination tourist routes and intensification of the circulation of tourists. Given the mutual advantages of the three regions, it is also favourable to achieving the goal of transforming Macau into a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure.

Alexis Tam stated that the Bridge will promote the sustainable development of tourism in the three regions and suggested the possibility of hosting tourism and sporting events such as marathons and bicycle tours. Wei Dongqing pointed out that the Bridge has the capability for carrying out such activities before it opens for traffic although the issue of Customs clearance still needed to be resolved between the governments of the three regions.