Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau bridge date leaves bus companies ‘in a spin’ as they scramble to get ready
- Hong Kong transport minister says bridge will open to public next Wednesday
- But bus companies had expected to get two months’ notice, and some vehicles haven’t passed inspections, while not all drivers are qualified
The world’s longest sea crossing will begin operations next week it was confirmed on Friday, but the abrupt announcement has left Hong Kong’s bus companies scrambling to get ready in time.
Secretary for Transport and Housing Frank Chan Fan revealed the cross-border Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau bridge would start operations from Wednesday.
But some bus firms have complained about the short notice and said the government had promised to give them two months to get ready.
“We are in a spin,” said Au Shui-hing, vice-chairman of One Bus Hong Kong Macau.
The official opening will be a day after the opening ceremony for the bridge, in which Hong Kong has invested HK$120 billion so far.
Although President Xi Jinping is expected to attend the ceremony on October 23 in Zhuhai, without crossing the border to the Hong Kong side, Chan said he did not know whether any national leaders would officiate at the ceremony, because the event was being arranged by mainland China.
When in service, the bridge will shorten trips from Zhuhai to the Hong Kong International Airport from four hours to 45 minutes, while journeys between Zhuhai and the Kwai Chung Container Port are expected to drop from about 3½ hours, to around 1¼ hours.