Letters | Four reasons Hong Kong tunnels should stop taking cash

The move would make commuting more convenient, clear the air and save money

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Autotoll has been in place in Hong Kong for more than a decade but is not used by a majority of drivers. Photo: Edmond So

Published: 5:01pm, 22 Jan 2019Updated: 5:00pm, 22 Jan 2019

I refer to your front-page article on January 20, discussing the need to address pricing of cross-harbour tunnels to relieve traffic congestion. The solution is simple: remove the cash payment by which most motorists settle the tunnel tolls.

Autotoll has been in place for more than 15 years but only 43 per cent of motor vehicles use it and only on January 3 were motorcycles entitled to use Autotoll. If most motor vehicles used Autotoll, we would see numerous immediate benefits. First, we would experience a significant drop in the stop-and-go traffic through the tunnels. Second, convenience for motorists would be greatly improved. Third, we would see a drop in vehicle emissions, as these would spend less time idling on the roads. Fourth, there would be immediate savings in the cost of collecting, reconciling and depositing all that cash.

Hong Kong should learn from other countries. E-Z Pass in the US works across 17 states and on all toll lanes with a wide number of “E-Z Pass only” lanes, unlike the two or three Autotoll lanes at our toll plazas. Motorists with E-Z Pass benefit from a discounted toll fare, reflective of the reduced cost of an electronic toll plaza. “E-Z Pass only” lanes frequently start far before the toll to provide more efficiency to motorists not paying cash.

I hear arguments that those who do not have Autotoll don’t want to pay the HK$35 monthly administrative fee and would rather spend extra time and fuel waiting in traffic. The HK$35 fee is negligible and perhaps the government could subsidise this as they do the Western Harbour Crossing, though a toll discount would be just as effective. Even better, remove the tolls altogether – Hong Kong can afford to do so as we clearly are not spending the fees on maintaining our dreadful roads.