China's President Xi Jinping officially opened the world's longest sea bridge connecting Hong Kong, Macau and mainland China Tuesday, at a time when Beijing is tightening its grip on its semi-autonomous territories.

The 55-kilometre (34-mile) crossing, which includes a snaking road bridge and underwater tunnel, links Hong Kong with the southern mainland city of Zhuhai and the gambling enclave of Macau, across the waters of the Pearl River Estuary.

Xi presided over an inauguration ceremony attended by Hong Kong's and Macau's city leaders at a new port terminal in Zhuhai.

"I declare the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau bridge officially open," Xi said in a one-line address, as digital fireworks exploded on a screen behind him at the indoor ceremony, before leaving the stage immediately.

Supporters of the multi-billion-dollar bridge promote it as an engineering marvel that will boost business and cut travel time, but critics say it is one more way to integrate Hong Kong into China as fears grow that the city's cherished freedoms are being eroded.

China's Vice Premier Han Zheng characterised the bridge as part of the development of the Greater Bay Area -- a Beijing-driven project to create an economic hub linking nine southern mainland cities to Hong Kong and Macau.

At the ceremony he described the strategy as "deployed and driven by Xi Jinping personally".

Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam said the bridge would help transform Hong Kong from a "connector to a more active participant".

Some Hong Kong social media comments accused Lam of "selling out" to Xi and portrayed her as Piglet to his Winnie the Pooh, as she was wearing an all-pink outfit.

It is the second major infrastructure project tying Hong Kong to mainland China to launch in a matter of weeks, after the opening of a high-speed rail link last month that sparked criticism Hong Kong was giving away territory -- with part of the terminus coming under mainland jurisdiction.

The main section of the new bridge is also considered mainland territory, even though Hong Kong was slated to pay at least half the cost of the project, according to the original blueprint from the city's government.

Hong Kong cars and drivers travelling over it "must comply with the laws and regulations of the mainland", the city's transport department said.

Building began in 2009 and has been dogged by delays, budget overruns, corruption prosecutions and the deaths of construction workers.

The total price tag is unclear but some estimates run to over 100 billion yuan ($14.4 billion).

- Limited use -

Hong Kong residents will only be granted a licence to cross into Zhuhai by car if they meet highly selective criteria, including holding certain mainland government positions or making major contributions to charities in the southern Chinese province of Guangdong.

Most people will need to travel on coaches and buses.

Some Hong Kong media reported that the physical condition of bus drivers would be monitored by cameras, including an alert sent if a driver yawns more than three times in 20 seconds.

Online commenters in Hong Kong complained about the bridge's restricted access ahead of the launch.

"Such a huge investment using the Hong Kong taxpayer's money... yet basically it is not open to us at all," said one comment on the South China Morning Post website.

But residents in Zhuhai welcomed it.

"I think this bridge will bring great convenience to the whole area of Zhuhai, Hong Kong and Macao, and promote the economic development of the whole area of the Pearl River Delta," resident Dang Zheiliang told AFP.

China already lays claim to the record for the world's longest bridge of any kind -- the Danyang-Kunshan Grand Bridge, a viaduct which is part of a high-speed rail line.

Political analyst Willy Lam said the launch by Xi showed his support for Hong Kong's economic and political integration into the region, adding that the Pearl River Delta had long been the "new growth pole of China".

It was also timed with a wider push to mark the 40th anniversary of China's economic reforms, against the backdrop of major challenges to the economy, including the escalating US-China trade conflict, Lam said.

China will mark the anniversary in December of the "reform and opening up" that was launched in 1978 under the late paramount leader Deng Xiaoping, moving away from a Maoist command economy and toward more market-oriented policies that transformed the country into the world's second-largest economy.

Dolphins, 'yawn cams' and political connections -- China's new mega bridge
Hong Kong (AFP) Oct 23, 2018 - The world's longest sea bridge was officially inaugurated on Tuesday by China's President Xi Jinping with supporters hailing it as an engineering triumph and detractors calling it a controversial white elephant.

Here are some facts about the remarkable new multi-billion dollar structure that connects the two semi-autonomous cities of Hong Kong and Macau to the sprawling Pearl River delta economic zone via the Chinese mainland city of Zhuhai.

- A behemoth build -

In terms of sheer size, it is a record breaker -- the longest ocean bridge and tunnel system in the world.

The total length runs a whopping 55 kilometres (34 miles), far further than any other rival bridge and tunnel combination.

Chinese state media said 420,000 tonnes of steel were used in its construction -- enough for 60 Eiffel Towers -- alongside 1.08 million cubic metres of concrete.

It is built to last at least 120 years and can withstand typhoon winds of up to 340 kilometres an hour.

- Above and below the water -

The bridge's unusual undulating structure is designed to keep open vital navigation channels in the Pearl River Delta, which boasts some of the world's busiest ports.

On its western flank the bridge leaves Zhuhai and connects with Macau before heading for 29.6 kilometres across the delta.

Three cable stayed bridges raise the road high enough for large ships to pass underneath.

But then the road plunges below the sea, entering a 6.7 kilometre long tunnel -- which the biggest container vessels can navigate over -- before rising back above the waves and continuing onto Hong Kong.

Until now residents of Zhuhai, Macau and Hong Kong have used ferries to zip between the three cities -- something detractors said illustrated why the costly bridge was unnecessary.

But engineers say the structure will significantly cut down travel time, from four hours between Hong Kong and Zhuhai to just 45 minutes.

- You shall not pass -

This is not a bridge anyone can just drive on -- only the wealthy or politically connected will be able to take their private cars across.

For Hong Kong-mainland dual-plate private cars 10,000 licences will be granted, while the quota for Macau is much lower at just 300.

Those eligible to apply have to meet various strict criteria such as being members of certain Chinese government organs, have paid recent taxes on the mainland or donated five million yuan ($720,000) to charities in southern China.

Those without a licence will have to take public transport to the bridge and then change to cross on private shuttle buses, something critics say might add to the journey times.

- Dolphins, dead workers, dodgy tests -

The bridge has been far from controversy free.

Since construction began in 2009, the project was beset by construction delays, legal challenges and budget overruns.

Since 2011 nine deaths have been recorded, according to the labour department, while three lab technicians were jailed for rigging tests on concrete used in the bridge.

But Hong Kong media say more have died, including at least nine workers from the mainland, and estimate total fatalities are at least 18.

Environmentalists also warned the bridge would have a devastating impact on a remarkable and already critically endangered species of pink dolphin in the Pearl River estuary.

Authorities said they took steps to avoid disturbing areas where the dolphins were most active.

Chinese authorities have released no overall cost figure for the bridge while the Hong Kong side of the bill has mushroomed in recent years, sparking significant discontent among local tax payers.

- Big brother is watching -

China has been at the forefront of using CCTV and other technology to monitor its citizens and the bridge will be no different.

Hong Kong media reported that special cameras will monitor bus drivers and alert authorities if they yawn too many times as they drive across. Their blood pressure will also be monitored.

Drivers will also need to switch the side of the road they drive on. The bridge is considered Chinese territory, where people drive on the right hand side of the road.

Just before they get to Hong Kong, while still on the bridge, they will have to switch to the left at specially built merger channels.

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Date set for mega Hong Kong-China bridge opening
Hong Kong (AFP) Oct 19, 2018
The world's longest sea bridge, connecting Hong Kong, Macau and the Chinese mainland will open to traffic next Wednesday, officials said, after complaints about the secrecy surrounding the project. A grand opening ceremony had already been announced for the day before in the southern mainland Chinese city of Zhuhai - possibly attended by China's President Xi Jinping. Hong Kong lawmakers have criticised a lack of transparency over when traffic will be able to use the bridge, while local bus comp ... read more