Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau bridge costs set to soar by HK$3.7 billion
'Conservative' projection by academics may tell only half the story as the government prepares to seek more cash for infrastructure project
The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau bridge project will cost taxpayers at least HK$3.3 billion more than its HK$83 billion budget, according to an estimate construction experts called conservative.
Such an increase would likely see the government forced to seek more cash from the Legislative Council, at a time when pan-democrats have pledged to delay funding requests for controversial projects to pressure the administration on political reform.
"The HK$3.7 billion is a conservative estimate because it has yet to take into account the extra costs from unforeseen factors," said Chau Kwong-wing, chair professor at the University of Hong Kong's department of real estate and construction. The sum would only include rising construction costs - at a time when labour shortages and a flurry of public-sector building projects are pushing prices up.
The additional funding relates to a HK$30.4 billion project to reclaim and develop an artificial island off Lantau and connect the island, which will host immigration facilities, to the road network.
The Transport and Housing Bureau earlier indicated to Legco's public works subcommittee that it would ask for an additional sum of more than HK$500 million for the island and related work. Should a funding request go to the subcommittee, it would join a long queue - lawmakers failed to vote on 21 projects before the summer recess.
The request will first go to Legco's transport panel early next year, the bureau said.
