The opening of a new mega-bridge connecting Hong Kong, Macao and Zhuhai is expected to boost economic growth in China's Greater Bay area, which has already boasted annual GDP of about 1.5 trillion US dollars, similar to the total GDP of South Korea in 2017.

"The opening of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HMZ Bridge) pulls Macao closer to the Pearl River Delta and to the Greater Bay Area. The bridge can also achieve the aim of traveling back and forth within an hour and highlights the full set of advantages in the regional economy and will further improve regional cooperation,” says Leong On Kei, the executive director of gaming development giant SJM Holdings Limited and a member of Macao's Legislative Council.

Beyond boosting its core tourism sector, Macao is eyeing the broader economic benefits of a fast link to Hong Kong and Zhuhai in southern China's Guangdong Province, which accounts for almost 30 percent of China's trade in goods.

Jasper Leong works as an administrator at an incubator for about 100 Macao startups. At least half of them have a tech focus not linked to tourism, promising much needed diversification for the local economy.

"Most of our members are Macao young entrepreneurs, so they are looking for opportunities to boost their business to do business matching and lots of things and then they are actually looking for opportunities to work with other businesses in Chinese mainland and especially in the Greater Bay Area," says Leong.

The new link is all part of an ongoing development of China's regions.  

The bridge should boost the flow of goods and people between Hong Kong, Macao and Guangdong.

Previously known as the "factory of the world," many parts of Guangdong's economy have moved rapidly up the value chain since the global financial crisis and the region is now home to some of China's most globally competitive companies. 

But there will be traffic limits at the start, while the 55-kilometer long sea-bridge is being tested.

Cars must apply for a permit through a quota system and traffic is expected to be limited to about 10,000 vehicles a day for the time being.

"It will definitely give us economic benefits, but I don't know whether the progress will be fast or slow," says Mr. Deng, who owns an electrical goods store in Macao's historic central district.

Fast or slow, it's hoped the world's longest sea-bridge will ultimately lead to not just growth, but also economic transformation and integration across China's Greater Bay Area.