Mega bridge fitting marker for anniversary year

When Hong Kong celebrated the 20th anniversary of its return to the motherland on Saturday, it stood at a new starting point.

Deeper integration between Hong Kong and the mainland is expected as the massive Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge nears completion. By facilitating transport between Hong Kong and cities on the western banks of the Pearl River estuary, the project will provide a wider space for the special administrative region to give play to its advantages, while opening up investment opportunities for Hong Kong businesses and people, experts believe.

Communications between Hong Kong and cities on the western bank have been limited by an underdeveloped transport network. A journey from Hong Kong to Zhuhai now takes four hours by road. The bridge, however, will significantly shorten the distance, cutting traveling time to just 30 minutes.