A Guangdong senior official said yesterday that he favoured a proposal to include Shenzhen in the planned Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, as it will further spur logistics and trade.

Schemes for the bridge are still under study, but two key construction plans are already available.

One is the so-called "Single Y" project that favours three landing points in Hong Kong, Macao and Zhuhai. The other is dubbed the "Double Y" project, which supports four landing points (to include one in Shenzhen).

The business sector and the government in Hong Kong generally uphold the "Single Y" project as it will save on construction costs. But Tang Bingquan, vice-governor of Guangdong, told reporters in Guangzhou yesterday that he personally supports the "Double Y" proposal.

"Hong Kong has tens of thousands of enterprises in Shenzhen, Huizhou and Dongguan. If we have one more channel (in Shenzhen), isn't it better for these companies to further exploit opportunities in western Guangdong?" asked Tang.

But he stressed that a final decision on the construction project shall be left to the central government, and that Guangdong would support the decision no matter if it were "Single Y" or "Double Y".

The planned bridge aims to open up and boost the development of the western part of Guangdong Province, which is relatively poor as the area lacks an expeditious transportation network linking with Hong Kong and Macao.

The bridge, estimated to cost HK$15-HK$18 billion (US$1.9-US$2.3 billion), will also boost cargo and passenger movement among the connected places.

Shenzhen Mayor Li Hongzhong said during an interview with TVB yesterday that he too backed the "Double Y" scheme.

"It will be beneficial if Shenzhen could be added (as one landing point) to the bridge," he said. "If that is to be the case, financial capacity to build the bridge and open up western Guangdong will then be strengthened."

It is understood that Hong Kong, Macao and Guangdong will share the construction cost of the bridge. Private investment is welcomed for the project.

Hopewell Holdings Chairman Gordon Wu, who has offered to be the contractor for the bridge, said the market has to be patient and wait for the final decision from the central government.

A task force set up by the three local governments has been conducting construction feasibility studies and will reveal the results at the end of the year.

(China Daily HK Edition February 14, 2004)