CE Plays Down Reports On Bridge Structure Safety

The Chief Executive Carrie Lam on Friday played down safety concerns surrounding the cross-border bridge, saying they're all just based on a photo.

Concerns about the controversy-plagued billion dollar project were raised after drone footage showed some breakwater structures at an artificial island of the bridge appeared to have drifted away. The bridge operator has responded that the concrete blocks are placed seemingly at random by design, and that there is nothing to worry about.

Lam said the concerns were caused by the single photo and that the safety of bridge linking Hong Kong to Macau and Zhuhai should be judged by experts and based on scientific facts.

The CE said the design of the bridge was based on 10 years of scientific studies, adding that it overcame the onslaught of the super typhoon Hato last year.

But to allay public concern, she said the government will contact the bridge operator to find out more information.

Later the Transport Secretary Frank Chan also echoed similar views. He said that the government would make sure the bridge is safe before it is opened to the public.

He also said the government would not rule out sending people to the artificial island structure to assess the situation.

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