Paul Yeung says the SAR has to make the best use of the HZMB and plan well with the upcoming HK Boundary Crossing Facilities Island

The opening of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge - the world's longest tunnel-cum-sea-crossing - is beginning to have a significant impact on the region. The number of passengers departing from the Hong Kong side exceeded a staggering 90,000 last Sunday. The figure is satisfactorily high, showing that the mega project has been effective in boosting cross-boundary interaction.

Indeed, the bridge's launch had not gone off quite smoothly due to inadequate preparations. On the first weekend after it went into service, the 24-hour "golden bus" shuttle service across the bridge was stretched to the limit. Thousands of passengers had to wait for hours at the immigration checkpoints before they could get on the bridge, sparking concerns over the efficiency of the shuttle service. But, thanks to the transport authority's measures to improve these services, passenger flow has been improving and is now better managed. However, a new problem has cropped up.

While the government has rolled out measures to improve shuttle bus services to avoid a repeat of the chaotic conditions for commuters, the problem has now shifted to Tung Chung town - the residential and commercial center that's nearest to the Hong Kong checkpoint. Tens of thousands of travelers using the bridge swarmed Tung Chung last weekend, creating a disturbance and drawing complaints from residents.

For the short term, there may be two ways to fix the problem of overcrowding. The first is for the Hong Kong authorities to coordinate with the Guangdong tourism administration in diversifying the routes of mainland tourists. Actually, there're many other tourist attractions in Hong Kong, and the burden for Tung Chung residents can be cushioned if the tourists can be diverted to other alluring spots as well. The other way is to crack down on unruly travel agents who bring in tour groups without first making the necessary arrangements with Hong Kong partners.

But, in the long run, more systematic planning for the region's development is needed. Development of the Hong Kong Boundary Crossing Facilities (HKBCF) Island is vital to diverting mainland travelers and making the best use of the HZMB. As part of the bridge, the HKBCF are located on a 150-hectare artificial island (about 130 hectares for the HKBCF and about 20 hectares for the southern landfall of the Tuen Mun-Chek Lap Kok Link). Basically, the island is meant to provide clearance facilities for passengers and goods passing through the bridge. But the potential for commercial use is embedded in the topside development of the HKBCF, which can provide up to 500,000 square meters of space for business development and other economic activities. When the HKBCF Island is well developed, equipped with shopping malls and comprehensive traffic facilities, most of the tourists arriving in Hong Kong via the HZMB could be readily brought out of the artificial island without them having to enter Tung Chung town.

The HKBCF development is especially necessary when we consider that the function of the HZMB will focus on passenger traffic in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. In recent years, thanks to the close ties between the western Pearl River Delta and the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions in areas like tourist consumption and service trades, passenger traffic in the three regions is on the rise. The demand for passenger transport is expected to go up. To make the best use of the bridge, we should focus on how to boost passenger traffic with the least impact on the local community.

The development of Lantau Island is not yet ready to support the bridge's operations. The SAR government published the Concept Plan for Lantau in 2007, and the overall planning approach is to optimize the use of internal and external transport links and infrastructure, concentrate on the development in north Lantau, and create business and employment opportunities. According to the 2013 Policy Address delivered by the then chief executive, Lantau Island has a geographical advantage in the development of logistics, tourism and other industries, as well as the creation of new employment opportunities for local residents. However, the progress is not satisfactory enough.

The government is carrying out the "Planning, Engineering and Architectural Study for Topside Development at Hong Kong Boundary Crossing Facilities Island of Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge". It is expected that the land use will be optimized and the feasibility of the proposed HKBCF topside development can then be ascertained. However, the study is not likely to be completed by the end of this year, according to official information. Just as Benjamin Franklin said: "By failing to prepare, you're preparing to fail."

We need to prepare better for the future bridge economy.

(HK Edition 11/08/2018 page12)