Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge: the environmental logic of three EIAs

Abstract

This article discusses the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge from the perspective of environmental protection. What is peculiar about this bridge is that three different sets of environmental impact assessment (EIA) obligations were relevant during its developmental stage. The reason why we see such an oddity is because the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, as its name tells, links three different jurisdictions, which are in the same country. As each jurisdiction has its own EIA law, different priorities, values and expectations are engendered. It will be argued that the conflicting laws only hampered environmental protection, in particular, the protection of the marine ecology of the Pearl River Estuary over which the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge crosses.