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Response to media enquiries on latest progress of Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge project
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     Regarding the news reports stating that "the Main Bridge of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) will achieve the requirements of commissioning by next summer", and media enquiries about the news reports, the Transport and Housing Bureau (THB) responded today (February 19) as follows:

     The entire HZMB project consists of the bridge-cum-tunnel works of the Main Bridge in Mainland waters being carried out by the HZMB Authority (HZMBA), and the link roads and boundary crossing facilities for which the three governments of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau are responsible.

     As stated in the supplementary information provided by the THB to the Legislative Council (LegCo) Public Works Subcommittee (PWSC) on December 8 last year, regardless of whether it is the HZMB Main Bridge or the related projects of the three sides, difficulties of the construction and pressure in meeting the programme schedule have been encountered. With safety and quality assurance as the major premises, the HZMBA and the three governments have been reviewing the progress of the various projects as well as overcoming and handling the difficulties concerned.

     In accordance with the latest situation of the HZMB Main Bridge and the related projects of the three sides, the three governments of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau as well as the HZMBA further compiled and assessed the works programme at the end of last year. It was concluded that it would not be feasible for the HZMB project (including the Main Bridge project) to be completed for commissioning by end-2016. This has been reported to the Task Force of the HZMB. The Task Force attached great importance to the completion date of the HZMB and requested the Joint Works Committee of the three governments to, with premises on the works quality and safety as well as resolving the difficulties and risks encountered during construction, conduct a final assessment with a view to reporting the consolidated revised target commissioning date of the entire HZMB project to the Central Government.

     Regarding the news reports, the Highways Department has enquired with the HZMBA which confirmed that "the Main Bridge of the HZMB will achieve the requirements of commissioning by next summer" as stated in the news reports was inconsistent with the facts. The HZMBA affirmed that it would not be possible for the Main Bridge to achieve the requirements of commissioning by next summer.

     As for media enquiries on the works progress of the Hong Kong section, also as stated in the supplementary information provided to the LegCo PWSC on December 8 last year, in view of the construction difficulties and challenges such as the unstable supply of materials, shortage of labour, restriction in airport height, constraints in environmental protection requirements and the slower-than-expected consolidation performance of reclamation works, the Highways Department anticipates that the local projects can only be completed by end-2017. According to the latest works progress, this target has remained unchanged.

Ends/Friday, February 19, 2016
Issued at HKT 16:34

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