EditorialTime to put foot down on Hong Kong’s cross-harbour tolls

The government’s move to ease cross-harbour traffic congestion via toll adjustments represents a new show of commitment to solving a worsening problem that has been taken for granted for far too long. In the past, proposals aimed at easing jams were repeatedly rejected by lawmakers and seen by the public as classic examples of “all talk and no action”. Even though there may now be some light at the end of the tunnel under the latest administration, the way forward is far from clear.

Credit must go to Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu and his team for addressing a long-standing issue not resolved by their predecessors. Starting from August 2, the difference in tolls at the three cross-harbour tunnels will be narrowed in an attempt to even out the flow of traffic. Private cars will pay HK$60, down from HK$75, for using the Western Harbour Tunnel, while charges at the Eastern Harbour Tunnel and Cross-Harbour Tunnel will rise to HK$30 from HK$20 and HK$25 respectively. Charges will be further adjusted at different times during the day later this year to ease congestion at peak hours.

The measures have again been greeted with scepticism, partly because they are yet to be introduced. Experience elsewhere has shown the effectiveness of road pricing may wear off, and time-adjusted tolls in the second phase have also raised eyebrows. Critics fear such a move will only prolong rush hours and create traffic chaos as motorists react to the changes in charges, which are set to rise or fall progressively by HK$2 every two minutes during the transition to peak hours or non-peak hours.

The idea of balancing cross-harbour traffic via toll adjustments has been around for two decades. Over the years, various consultancy studies and proposals have been forwarded for discussion, but indecision and lack of political support reduced them to nothing more than what could have been. The government has sensibly proposed a moderate HK$25 for taxis using the three crossings and spared other commercial vehicles from increases until the second stage, but the package remains a hard sell. Officials must step up lobbying so that its effectiveness can be put to the test.