Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Non-Fiction 2020complete | Page 34

Lisboa has 48 floors above ground and 4 below, with 433 hotel rooms, and 338 parking spots. One of the
bridges, The Zhuhai bridge, opened in October 2018, is the world’s longest sea bridge, spanning 55
kilometres, from Hong Kong to Macau, and Zhuhai. The bridge cost approximately $20 Billion to complete
and was under construction from December 2009. The bridge is designed to last over 120 years,
withstanding pressures from earthquakes and typhoons.
Economy
The economy of Macau has remained one of the most open in the world since its handover to China in
1999. During the first three quarters of 2007, a rapid rise in the number of mainland visitors due to China's
easing of travel restrictions, increased public works expenditures, and significant investment inflows
associated with the liberalisation of Macau's gaming industry drove the five-year recovery. Sadly, in 2015,
Macau's economy saw a sharp decrease (-26.4%) due to the reduced spending by visitors from Mainland
China since Anti-corruption campaign under Xi JinPing. The Hong Kong is itself a reserve currency for
the Macanese pataca, which is pegged at the official rate of around 1 Hong Kong dollar to 1.03 Macanese
pataca.
What would life be like in the Greater Bay Area?
China’s plan is to develop the GBA improve the economy. The Greater Bay Area will link up Hong Kong,
Macau, and nine parts of Southern China. Hong Kong is known as a world financial center; Shenzhen is
known as China’s “Silicon Valley” because of its innovation and startup culture; Guangzhou is known for its
manufacturing industry and Macau and Zhuhai are known for leisure and tourism. If all of this is brought
together, then it will create a new wonderful place, which will bring together the whole of Southern China
together. What’s other great adventures will China take next?