The operation of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) will balance the development between eastern and western areas in south China's Guangdong Province, according to John Ho, partner of an investment company Tenplus Ventures.

Over the last few years, Guangzhou and Shenzhen cities in eastern Guangdong have developed quickly. As the new bridge connected Zhuhai City in western Guangdong with the Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions (SARs), Ho expected that it will facilitate the growth of the whole province, and balance the developments between eastern and western areas in Guangdong.

“With the bridge, the development in western Guangdong will be foreseen in the next couple of years. For Guangdong Province as a whole, we will have a very balanced development on both sides. And by connecting Hong Kong, Macao and Zhuhai, we are going to see new development,” Ho observed.

Meanwhile, the new cross-sea bridge will save time for daily commuters, not just in Zhuhai, but also from cities farther away such as Zhongshan and Jiangmen. Before the HZMB opened, people in Zhuhai had to take a three-hour route to Hong Kong through the Shenzhen-Zhongshan bridge up north. Or, they could get on a ferry that would take over an hour. Now it takes only about 30 minutes. People living there can comfortably travel to work in Hong Kong every day. 

“For Hong Kong, we will see a lot of companies be able to connect with not just Shenzhen and Guangzhou, but also other cities like Zhuhai,” Ho said, adding that “Hong Kong talents will be able to facilitate and have new job opportunities in those areas."

And the HZMB will also benefit the Greater Bay Area, which refers to Hong Kong, Macao and nine cities in Guangdong. 

The Greater Bay Area is one of the most economically dynamic regions in China. Official data shows the economic output of the Greater Bay Area climbed to 1.5 trillion US dollars last year, the same as Russia. GDP grew by 7.2 percent year-on-year, better than the national average of 6.9 percent.

“The three cities have different advantages. For Hong Kong, it's very strong in financial and legal perspectives. For Zhuhai, currently, a lot of high tech developments are going on over there with biotech and Internet as well. Macao has been the gaming industry for a long time. By combining all of them, we will be able to leverage their strengths. And it will benefit citizens in all three cities,” Ho noted.