As seen from Lantau island in Hong Kong, the bridge stretches far across the sea: COURTESY PHOTO
China has launched world’s longest sea bridge that links Macau in Hong Kong and mainland China.
The bridge has been officially opened by china’s president Xi Jinping at a new port terminal in the southern mainland city of Zhuhai.
“I declare the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau bridge officially open,” Xi announced amidst fireworks explosion.
The bridge is 55-kilometre (34-mile) with a snaking road bridge and underwater tunnel, connecting Lantau island in Hong Kong to Zhuhai and the gambling enclave of Macau, across the waters of the Pearl River Estuary.
Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge project between the two countries after the launch of the high-speed rail link last month.
The mega bridge will open to traffic on Wednesday.
Only eligible Hong Kong residents will granted a licence to cross over to Zhuhai including holding certain mainland government positions or making major contributions to charities in the southern Chinese Guangdong province.
Others will however use public means like buses and coaches.
“Such a huge investment using the Hong Kong taxpayer’s money… yet basically it is not open to us at all,” said one comment on the South China Morning Post website.