Hong Kong will provide US$986 million, while the Guangdong-central government contribution will be US$1.02 billion. Macau's share is US$289 million. The remaining 58% of the bridge's construction costs will be financed by bank loans.

Hong Kong's chief executive Donald Tsang hailed the three governments' consensus as a major breakthrough, adding the submission of a feasibility study can now be expedited.

The next step is for the formulation of a formal agreement and institutional set-up for the project. Hong Kong will tender the bridge's design work after securing endorsement from its Legislative Council's finance committee.