The government has made no assessment of how a second bridge across the Pearl River mouth will impact on the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau (HZM) Bridge, a senior official admits.

The Shenzhen-Zhongshan bridge, to be built just 30km north of the HZM structure, will be completed as early as 2023. A third bridge, the Humen Second Bridge, 60km north of Hong Kong, will begin carrying traffic from 2019.

Legco member Jimmy Ng, who represents one of the industrial functional constituencies, said businesses “have great concern for the economic development of Lantau Island” because of the Shenzhen crossing.

In a written reply, Development Secretary Eric Ma said the Hong Kong government “has not conducted any comprehensive assessment on the daily traffic flow” or other aspects of the Shenzhen-Zhongshan bridge.

Ma also acknowledged the government had made no forecast of the likely traffic flow or economic value of the HZM bridge and related projects, which have cost around HK$130 billion. The last study to be carried out was in 2008, just before construction began.

Ma affirmed the government view that a series of developments on north Lantau and northwest Hong Kong would create fresh economic activity.  He said Lantau would become Hong Kong’s “double gateway” to the world and the Greater Pearl River Delta (PRD).

Photo: Artist’s impression of Shenzhen-Zhongshan Bridge