UPDATED: 08:47, January 11, 2007 

China's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) said here Wednesday that it has set up a special panel to accelerate preparations for the bridge linking up Zhuhai city on the mainland with Hong Kong and Macao.

The commission said that the panel has already held its first meeting and identified the major issues and tasks in the project.

The 35-kilometer bridge connecting Hong Kong, Macao and Zhuhai in southern Guangdong province was approved by the central government in 2003.

It is believed that the bridge will contribute to the integration of the two special administrative regions with the mainland.

The design of the bridge has triggered controversy among experts and the panel is expected to come up with an acceptable solution.

Headed by the NDRC, the panel includes representatives from the Ministry of Communications, Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, and the governments of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao.