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Marco Yip, 35, thinks it won't be long before drivers return to the Eastern Harbour Tunnel; From Quarry Bay to Tuen Mun Fare: $377.2

I did a little survey myself after reading news reports about the increased toll for the  Eastern Harbour Tunnel.

I asked my customers if they would switch to other tunnels to avoid the expensive toll, and most of them told me time was the vital factor.

They said they would not choose other tunnels unless they were in a hurry. And they would take the MTR if they had time. So, time is the most important consideration and money only comes second.

I think congestion problems at the Cross-Harbour Tunnel  will not be solved because of its convenient location and it does provide the fastest route for going to Causeway Bay and Wan Chai.

Hong Kong people are very good at adapting to the new environment. They will get used to the expensive toll very soon. Those private car drivers are only feeling furious and angry, and this is why they switch to other means of transport these days. I am sure they will use the Eastern Harbour Tunnel again after a while.

The Cross-Harbour Tunnel and the Eastern Harbour Tunnel will continue to be busy just like before. Though the traffic has been quite smooth in the past few days, I am sure the Cross-Harbour Tunnel will be very congested within one month.

The traffic has been very well controlled in the past few days as the bus companies deploy extra buses and manpower at the stations in Hunghom and the government keeps reminding people to leave for work earlier.

The public just feel the urge to voice their anger against the new toll, but they will give in eventually. Who wants to get stuck in a traffic jam every day? I bet for sure drivers will choose the Eastern Harbour Tunnel once they calm down.

Time is also vital for taxi drivers. No driver can endure long waits in a queue. We can only make more money if we serve more customers, and congestion really affects our earnings. We are racing against time every day, and we cannot just sit around and wait to enter a tunnel that is troubled by congestion all the time.

I strongly object to the increase in the toll, as increasing the rate by $10 is just way too much. The economy is still very hopeless and business is poor.

The government says it should let the market work on its own, but it is the government's responsibility to supervise the market and make sure it works well.

It is outrageous for a tunnel company to increase the toll by such a big percentage.

I am not very optimistic about the recent visit made by Taiwanese political leaders to mainland China. The central government tries very hard to establish 'one country, two systems' in Hong Kong and Macau, and  Taiwanese people should feel worried when they look at us.

Everything in Hong Kong has worsened since the handover in 1997 and this is because Beijing appointed  Tung Chee-hwa, who was very obedient to the central government as our chief. Being obedient does not mean he is talented and capable of taking over the top post.

If the mainland really reunites with Taiwan, the central government for sure will appoint someone who is on good terms with Beijing as the Taiwanese president. Again being obedient and submissive to Beijing is the most vital consideration for the central government.

Taiwan will be in danger of being ruled by a president who is like Mr Tung - very good at pleasing Beijing but terrible in governing Taiwan. This is a huge cost Taiwan has to pay for being reunited with the mainland.



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