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Memorable opening of Lantau Link
Hong Kong's towering new landmark, the Lantau Link, was officially opened this (Sunday) evening by the former British Prime Minister, the Rt Hon the Baroness Thatcher, who described the Link as "one of the world's most spectacular engineering feats".
About 1,000 guests and 400 media representatives witnessed the evening ceremony which was held on the bridge site. The highlights of the ceremony included the lighting up of the entire 3.5-kilometre Link and a spectacular fireworks and laser display.
In her speech, Baroness Thatcher said the Lantau Link and the other projects in the programme for building the new airport at Chek Lap Kok together represented a powerful expression of confidence in the future.
"Achievement and progress are in the soul of this land and her people. This bridge is an enormous tribute to your vigour and determination. It displays the unceasing imagination of modern Hong Kong," she said, standing before the huge 2.2 kilometre Tsing Ma suspension bridge.
"So let us say to those who venture to question whether Hong Kong will succeed and prosper in the years ahead, 'Come see this bridge, one of the foremost monuments of our time and put your confidence in the people who built it.' "
The Lantau Link would be the artery connecting urban Hong Kong to the new airport and would provide an impressive and inspiring entrance to Hong Kong, she said.
"The qualities of the people of a city are so often revealed by the things they choose to build around them. There could be no better symbol of the boldness, the vision, and the energy of the people of Hong Kong than the Tsing Ma Bridge."
She said the Tsing Ma Bridge, a structure of style and beauty and the world's longest road-rail suspension bridge, had a wider significance: "Standing here, at Hong Kong's gateway to the world, it is a visible sign of what Hong Kong represents, a rare and fruitful combination of diverse talents and cultures.
"The concept for this project came from Hong Kong. But in typical Hong Kong fashion it has been a truly international venture. You have drawn on the best engineering and construction skills the world has to offer. The main deck of the bridge was built in Britain and Japan -- but assembled just across the border in China. Now there's an example of co-operation in the interests of Hong Kong!"
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