Eastern Harbour Tunnel tolls rise rejected by arbitrators

Arbitrators have rejected a toll increase of about 40 per cent for the Eastern Harbour Tunnel, with charges likely to remain unchanged for at least four years.

The government welcomed the decision and the undersecretary for transport and housing, Yau Shing-mu, said: "The public will not need to suffer the consequences of a toll increase."

Operator New Hong Kong Tunnel took the matter to arbitration after the Executive Council in June last year rejected its application to raise tolls by between 38.5 per cent and 42.1 per cent.

The company's 30-year franchise ends in 2016, and the chances of it applying for another toll rise before then are slim.

Despite the arbitrators' decision, the company said it would continue to "provide a safe and high-quality tunnel service". It had argued the rise was needed to keep its operation profitable.

The company continues to pay the construction and on-going maintenance expenses for the 2.2-kilometre tunnel, which will be transferred back to the government in 2016.