Minister defends two-phased plan for raising tunnel fees
The transport chief has defended his two-phased approach to toll charges for the three cross-harbour tunnels to ease traffic jams, days after lawmakers offered a counterproposal for a more drastic revision.
Secretary for Transport and Logistics Lam Sai-hung said yesterday a gradual approach was needed, as the public was unwilling to accept large increases.
He added that traffic levels were still affected by the pandemic and it would take time to update the fare payment system.
Lam was speaking after the Transport and Logistics Bureau on Wednesday suggested increasing private car charges for the
Cross-Harbour Tunnel from HK$20 and the Eastern Harbour Tunnel from HK$25 to a flat rate of HK$30 for both.
The proposal included lowering the toll for the most expensive crossing, the Western Harbour Tunnel, from HK$75 to HK$60.
Authorities said they would also consider introducing varying tunnel tolls for vehicles at different periods of the day after the first phase of fee adjustments.
The new fares, designed to ease congestion, are expected to undergo legislative amendments in the first quarter of 2023, before the expiry of the Western Harbour Tunnel franchise in August, when the government is expected to buy back the crossing.
“The first step for us is to set a fee for all three tunnels after we take back control of the Western
Harbour Tunnel. For taxis, we will also set the same price for all three tunnels,” Lam said.
“We hope to have enough data in the year following August next year … where we would then proceed with the second phase, at which point we will have more details on tunnel fee pricing during different periods of the day.”
Lam highlighted that the government’s goals in adjusting the tunnel fares was to ensure the capacity of its cross-harbour routes were used and that it was also hoped to change drivers’ habits. He said the high cost of using the western tunnel meant that traffic congestion in the other two was relatively serious and also affected road users who were not crossing the harbour.
Lam’s remarks came days after a coalition of 14 unaffiliated lawmakers floated a counterproposal to the government plan.
Their scheme would see car tolls for the Western Harbour Tunnel cut from HK$75 to HK$60 during the morning and afternoon rush hours, and to HK$30 between 10am and 5pm. Charges for the Cross-Harbour and Eastern Harbour routes would remain at HK$20 and HK$25 respectively from 7am to 8pm. But the lawmakers suggested setting tolls at HK$15 for all three crossings between 8pm and 7am.
The Legislative Council’s transport panel is expected to discuss the tunnel toll proposal tomorrow, but the reaction from lawmakers has been largely against the bureau plan.