China
11:23, 26-Jun-2017
Transformation of Hong Kong surprises British engineer
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Hong Kong marks the 20th anniversary of its return to China on July 1, 2017. The last two decades have been a time of great change. Francis Budge, a 69-year-old engineer who witnessed the city's dramatic transformation over the past 20 years, has shared his views with CGTN’s reporter Zhang He.
Budge was involved in a number of major projects in Hong Kong as a civil engineer, including the master plan for its new international airport. He was filled with excitement upon hearing that the development project was of high priority before the handover.
Hong Kong returned to China in 1997 – ending more than 150 years of British control. Budge revisited Hong Kong several times over the past 15 years, catching glimpses of changes following the handover.
Budge said he was surprised to see the amazing new infrastructure built in Hong Kong during his last visit in 2015, including the high-speed railway link between Kowloon and Shenzhen, and ongoing Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge.
Last year, Budge retired to a small market town in the English county of Wiltshire. He still does his best to promote the professional link between Hong Kong and the UK. For him, Hong Kong is a land full of opportunities.