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The first cars and buses started crossing the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge on Wednesday morning, as the heavily delayed mega project finally swung into action.
The 55km bridge, the world's longest sea crossing, had been officially opened by President Xi Jinping on Tuesday.
More than 20 vehicles were seen queuing at the SkyCity Interchange near the airport shortly before 9am, waiting to enter the Hong Kong Port. Fewer than 10 police officers were managing the traffic.
Excited coach travelers took selfies at the immigration clearing building,
Retired Ricky Fung Kwan-wah, 66, who was joined to one day to Macau and Zhuhai, said the building was beautiful, with ceiling lights that changed color.
"I want to see Carrie Lam," said he, referring to Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam Yuet-ngor Cheng, who attended the opening ceremony on the Chinese President Xi.
Ho Man, who was on his way to Zhongshan, said it took him 30 minutes to get to the border clearance. He said he used to go to Zhongshan via the Shenzhen Bay Port.
Law Chit-kwong, 55, who is working on the construction of the Tuen Mun-Chek Lap Kok link that will eventually connect the border crossing facility to the northwest New Territories, took a day off to witness the moment. Bringing his bike with him, Law said he was touched to see the opening. He said he planned to cycle around Macau then go to Zhuhai.
"Of course, I am happy. I built it for five years, "he said.
Secretary for Transport and Housing Frank Chan Fan said he was not expecting a large volume of traffic on the bridge's first day of public service.
"In the initial period … passenger and traffic flow will be relatively low. It will take time to build, "Chan said, adding that he expected 30,000 mainland Chinese visitors to Hong Kong on Wednesday.
Commissioner for Transport Mabel Chan Mei-bo said the government was expecting 100 coaches carrying more than 5,000 passengers onto the bridge.
She urged passengers to the public transport of the private car was limited.
Hung Wing-tat, a fellow of the Hong Kong Society for Transportation Studies, said he would be successful in the long run.
"In the coming month, it will not reach the government's original estimate of 9,000 to 14,000 vehicles using it each day. I think the main goal of the first month is to test the operation of the bridge, including the restaurant, "Hung said.
Stanley Chaing Chi-wai, from a cross-border truckers union, said the bridge would make it much cheaper for Hong Kong and mainland Chinese cities near Zhuhai.
HK $ 6,000 (US $ 765), and companies preferred to move cargo by ship.
"It could be cheaper to move cargo on the bridge, about HK $ 4,000 per trip," he said, adding that it could be more competitive.
But Chaing said Hong Kong, such as Dongguan or Huizhou. With the uncertainty of the US-China trade war, he said, it was too early to estimate how many trucks would use the bridge.
"The Greater Bay Area" – a national scheme linking 11 southern Chinese cities to an integrated economic and business hub – by putting the three cities within an hour's drive of each other.
Hong Kong-based travelers can take advantage of the port of call to reach the city of the city, before using a port-to-port shuttle bus for the cross-border journey and changing to local services on the other side.
Alternatively, Hong Kong directly with Zhuhai and Macau, avoiding the need for exchange in Hong Kong.
Last days, it is estimated that you will be able to do this 50 to 60 per cent of the planned 400 daily round trips between the three cities.
Eddie Choi, General Manager Assistant for Eternal Cross-Border East Coach Management, the city's leading cross-border bus company, said that because of the rush, the operator would run into the planned trip to Zhuhai on Wednesday, with about 50 per cent to 60 per cent of tickets sold.
"We do not have enough time to make manpower preparations and promote our new service. But we're getting a lot of inquiries from customers, "he said.
However, cross-border transportation bumps were upbeat about the bridge's benefits, as it would be carved out of Guangdong province, which is beyond the reach of high-speed rail.
Chan Man-keung, a spokesman for one Hong Kong Macau bus, which provides a fleet of 19 coaches running between Kwun Tong and the gambling hub, said the company only on Wednesday.
"We run into a computer glitch when we try to adjust the date for ticket sales. Now we can formally operate on October 25, "he said.
Mega bridge blamed for dolphin numbers
Construction on the Hong Kong section of the bridge started in 2011. But it has been plagued by problems such as workplace accidents, corruption investigation, technical obstacles and budget overruns.
Hong Kong's bill for the HK $ 120 billion (US $ 15.4 billion) snowballed project, including the cost of related infrastructure.
This article Cars and nozzles start crossing Pearl River Delta as Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge
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