China is promoting financing on the construction of a bridge linking Hong Kong and Macao, China's two special administrative regions, and Zhuhai, a special economic zone in southern Guangdong Province.

Li Miaojuan, director of Guangdong provincial reform and development commission said on Friday that a consensus on financing the bridge construction has been reached.

The three sides have agreed to share the subsidy amount by adhering to the principle of equalization of cost-to-benefit ratios which takes into account the economic benefits to each side, she said.

Hong Kong will be responsible for 50.2 percent of the construction fund, the Chinese mainland 35.1 percent and Macao 14.7 percent, according to consensus.

The bridge's main body will be about 29.6 km. To the west, it will land on an artificial island off Gongbei. To the east, it will land on an artificial island built for the tunnel section.

It will be built according to the six-lane expressway standard with a vehicle speed of 100 km per hour. To ensure unimpeded sea traffic of the main navigation channels towards Guangzhou and Shenzhen ports, there will be a tunnel linking up the two artificial islands which will provide bridge and tunnel switching facilities.

(Xinhua News Agency February 29, 2008)