A New " World Wonder " !

At the start of the Twenty-first century the Oresund bridge linking Europe with Scandinavia was a mechanical feat that stunned the world.  The thought of a bridge that spanned 16.4 kilometres of open sea was simply revolutionary in providing both a road and rail link from Copenhagen in Denmark to Malmo in Sweden.   The construction period took from 1995 to 1999 and the bridge cost more than fifty billion dollars.   It was officially opened  on July 1, 2000.

This week saw the opening of an even greater sea bridge, linking China with Macau and Hong Kong. This crosses fifty-five kilometres of open water and took nine years to construct.   The cost is not disclosed but it will provide two road lanes each way and will predominantly serve bus traffic.   Private citizens can get a permit to use the bridge but the main use will be tourist traffic and there will be a toll ranging from $8 to $10, depending on peak times and public holidays.

Sadly, this new bridge will dim the hopes of many Hong Kong residents of establishing a degree of autonomy from mainland China.  The city was ceded to Britain in 1842 during the Opium wars and quickly became the trading hub of the orient.   The British ruled with a light hand and Hong Kong became both a key tourist destination and a world city.

When the Communists took over China in 1948 they scrupulously left Hong Kong alone until the lease expired and it was handed back on July 1, 1997.   That was under a carefully negotiated agreement which promised a degree of autonomy, but stressed a " One country, two systems " approach which is now encountering pressure from a more militant China.

As a trading city Hong Kong produced its share of millionaires and as the handover approached many established links with Australia and America as bolt holes to hide their money and seek citizenship. Since Xi Jinping took office China has entered a more authoritarian age and has intruded more forcefully  in Hong Kong affairs.   The creation of this new sea bridge is tangible evidence that the grasp of the mainland is ever tighter.

Perhaps the fate of both Hong Kong and Taiwan are closely linked.   When Chiang Kia Chek lost the civil war to the Communists he moved his forces to the island of Formosa, which was renamed Taiwan.   China insists it is a renegade province which will one day be reunited with the mainland, by force if necessary. For decades, its independence has been guaranteed by an American peace treaty.

Australia has been negotiating a free trade agreement with Taiwan and that has now met an impasse.  China has made it clear that it would not look favourably on such a deal and it would cause difficulties in trade between the two countries.   Seeing that Taiwan has a population of just twenty-two million people, the trade balance loss is obvious.

China's tolerance of both Hong Kong and Taiwan are hardening.  The fact that Taiwan now has an independence minded president seems sure to ratchet up the pressure.  It seems certain that the days of reckoning are fast approaching.    That sea bridge is a token of how the embrace is ever tightening.