Editorial | Link leads to brighter future for Greater Bay Area
Opening of Huangmaohai Cross-sea Passage to ease flow of goods between Hong Kong and other cities in development zone
Bridges literal and figurative are increasingly important for China. President Xi Jinping has called for building “bridges” in the form of international relationships that will support the national and global economy.
Physical spans are also rapidly taking shape, including a new one connecting the mainland cities of Jiangmen and Zhuhai.
The Huangmaohai Cross-sea Passage is expected to ease the flow of goods between Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area, the cluster of 11 cities in southern China that are home to 86 million people.
Essentially a western extension of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge, the structure opened to traffic last month. It runs some 31km (19 miles) from Gaolan Port in Zhuhai to Doushan in Jiangmen on the Pearl River Delta. The section over the sea spans nearly 14km.
Hongkongers can now reach Jiangmen in 1½ hours, a journey that previously took up to five hours by bus or just under two hours by express train. The new link is of great benefit to the freight industry, with trucks carrying construction modules from Jiangmen to Hong Kong no longer having to take detours.
Business leaders duly expect an increase in trade, investment and collaboration across the bay area. Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce CEO Patrick Yeung Wai-tim said easing the flow of goods, services, talent and capital would allow the region to “expand import and export pathways and proactively explore international markets”.
