The Hong Kong-Macau-Zhuhai bridge. Photo: Courtesy of the Information Services Department
The chairman of Legco 's Finance Committee, Chan Kin-por, says Hong Kong's reputation will be damaged if Legco doesn't approve funding for the completion of the bridge to Macau, and the express rail link to Guangzhou.
Chan told RTHK that, so far, there are nearly 20 funding applications on the committee's agenda awaiting members' scrutiny.
However, he said the request for an extra HK$5.46 billion to cover cost overruns for the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge, and an additional HK$20 billion to complete the express rail link, must be approved within the next two months.
He said the government has to decide by the end of this month whether to withdraw some of the other items on the agenda, in order to move up the vetting of funding requests for the two projects.
However, this will hit funding for other initiatives, such as the medical voucher scheme. Mr Chan added that never has there been an infrastructure project in Hong Kong that couldn't come to fruition.
Earlier, the administration warned that the boundary crossing facilities at the massive bridge would be left without taxi stands, car parks and public toilets unless more money is pumped into its construction.
Meanwhile, the public works subcommittee has yet to give the green light to the application for additional funding to complete the Hong Kong section of the Express Rail Link. It has to pass through the sub-committee before going to the Finance Committee.
The Committee is slated to hold an extra eight-hour meeting on January 30.
http://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1231827-20151225.htm
