The Transport Bureau (DSAT) said Thursday it expects there will be more than 200 bus trips per day between the border checkpoints of the three jurisdictions for the Hong-Kong-Zhuhai-Macau (HKZM) Bridge – colloquially known as delta bridge – when it comes into operation.
The mega-bridge is widely expected to open to traffic later this year. Its opening date is yet to be decided and officially announced by the central government.
Concerning cross-border coach services between Macau and Hong Kong – from a particular point in Macau to a point in Hong Kong and vice versa, the bureau announced yesterday that Macau-registered coaches will be allowed to run 16 round trips between the two special administrative regions per day, while Hong Kong-registered coaches will be allowed to run 34 round trips per day.
The bureau also announced that 100 permits will be issued for cross-border taxi services between Macau and Hong Kong via the delta bridge. The taxis can travel an unlimited number of times per day. The bridge will be open 24/7.
The bureau hosted a press conference Thursday about the future passenger transportation arrangement and services for the delta bridge.
Addressing the press conference, DSAT Director Kelvin Lam Hin San said that the bus services on the delta bridge will have two routes – one between Hong Kong and Macau and the other between Hong Kong and Zhuhai.
According to Lam, there will be a bus every five minutes on the delta bridge during rush hours.
Lam said that the delta bridge bus service has been granted by the Guangdong government to a private company, which he did not name. He also said that the fee is yet to be announced.
Hong Kong media reported in March that a company headed by Hong Kong-Macau businesswoman Pansy Ho Chiu-king won the Guangdong provincial government’s monopoly concession to run shuttle bus services across the bridge. According to the reports at that time, a delta bridge bus ride would cost HK$80.
Lam also said yesterday that the local government was planning two local bus routes – between the peninsula and Macau’s HKZM Bridge border checkpoint (101X), and between Taipa and the checkpoint (102X).
During yesterday’s press conference, Lam also said that 600 permits will be issued for Macau-registered cars to travel to and from Hong Kong under a regular quota initiative.
The regular quota for Hong Kong-registered cars entering Macau via the delta bridge has been set at 300 permits, Lam said.
During yesterday’s press conference, Lam also said that the West Car Park at Macau’s HKZM Bridge border checkpoint will be for drivers of Macau-registered vehicles to park there before going to Hong Kong via public transport.
Lam also said that the East Car Park at Macau’s HKZM Bridge border checkpoint will be for drivers of Hong Kong-registered cars to park there before entering Macau via public transport. .
During the press conference, Lam also said that the city’s six gaming operators have agreed to jointly run two shuttle bus routes between Macau’s HKZM Bridge border checkpoint and the city – one to and from the Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal and the other for the Taipa Ferry Terminal.
