Talking Points: Will the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau bridge benefit Hong Kong?
Hate it when you can’t talk back? Well, you can with Young Post. Have your say and share with students around Hong Kong
Is the latest unveiled major infrastructure project a white elephant or a useful piece of engineering. Tiffy Wong, 14, SKH Lam Kau Mow Secondary School
It will help improve the city’s economy, and that means Hongkongers stand to gain a lot from the world’s longest sea crossing. The bridge, which is an attraction itself, is a convenient choice for tourists who want to visit Hong Kong. It will be a big boost for the city’s tourism industry, and create more jobs for locals.
It will also put the three cities within an hour’s drive of one another. For example, it’s cheaper to go to Macau now. A trip to the former Portuguese enclave and back by ferry costs around HK$180, but you will only have to pay around HK$130 if you take a cross-border bus. Also, you do not need to worry about suffering from sea-sickness.
In conclusion, the mega link will further integrate Hong Kong with southern China and boost business with the mainland.
Talking Points: Is the new high-speed rail going to be good or bad for Hong Kong?
Zenna Sultan,16, HKTA The Yuen Yuen Institute No 3 Secondary School
This is a controversial topic, but in my opinion, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau bridge will create a business hub in the country’s south, including Hong Kong. This is a great way to improve the region’s economy. Also, more mainlanders will visit the city and maybe use the bridge to travel to Macau.
So I think the bridge will be beneficial to Hong Kong.
Kelvin Fong Man-hin, 16, Pok Oi Hospital 80th Anniversary Tang Ying Hey College
Needless to say, it will be good for Hong Kong. The 55km bridge will facilitate co-operation between local and mainland companies. What’s more, it will put the three cities within an hour’s commute of each other, and enhance economic development and tourism in Hong Kong. However, there is concern over traffic jams on the bridge. To solve this problem, co-operation between Hong Kong, Zhuhai, Macau is essential.
Talking Points: Should the government enforce a meat-free day each week?
Rainbow Sit Mei-hung, 15, China Holiness Church Living Spirit College
There are benefits as well as problems. The authorities are irresponsible because they are not concerned about traffic congestion, bus arrangements, and safety issues. They should have taken action beforehand. Since the beginning of construction, the bridge has faced one problem after another – for example, cost overruns, project delays, and destruction of the habitats of Chinese white dolphins. I hope the government can provide a safe travelling corridor for the dolphins from northern Lantau.
Kelvin Li, 18, PLK Yao Ling Sun College
Yes, definitely. The bridge will shorten trips from Hong Kong to Zhuhai and Macau, and there will be a substantial reduction in cost. It will also boost economic development and tourism in Hong Kong. It will enhance Hong Kong’s position as a regional financial hub, and more people will invest on projects in the city.
Even though it has caused damage to the ecosystem and the habitats of Chinese white dolphins, the bridge has been built in a way that is less harmful to the environment. Any development poses environmental risks, so it depends on how we preserve the environment after the project has been completed.
In our next Talking Points, we’ll discuss:
Is Carrie Lam’s Lantau reclamation project a waste of Hong Kong’s money or not?
We are now accepting your answers for this topic. To take part, email your answer with your name, age, and school, along with a nice, clear selfie (make sure it’s not blurry), to [email protected] by lunchtime on Monday. Don’t forget to include “Talking Points” in the subject line.
Edited by M. J. Premaratne