Smooth launch for Hong Kong’s new electronic toll system at Lion Rock Tunnel, but official warns real test will be Monday’s peak-hour traffic
- Road tunnel begins only accepting payments through HKeToll system, requiring drivers to pay flat rate of HK$8 through detection tags linked to online accounts
- About 46,949 vehicles passed through tunnel, of which 5 per cent did not have tag detected
The road tunnel began only accepting payments through the HKeToll system at 5am on Sunday, requiring drivers to pay a flat rate of HK$8 (US$1) through detection tags which are scanned at the toll checkpoints before a fare is deducted from their online accounts.
The Sunday launch was largely uneventful, even though the tunnel, with about 90,000 vehicles passing through it daily, is the busiest toll road so far to adopt the collection system.
Tunnel staff were seen waving their hands to cars slowing down before the closed booths on Sunday morning, signalling hesitant drivers to keep going.
A driving instructor, who only provided his surname as Mok, said he drove slow because he was concerned about his tag not working. “I was worried that my tag would not be scanned if I drove too fast,” he told local media.
Under the new system, road users have to apply for the vehicle tag, open an account online and set up a payment method.
As of 6pm on Sunday, a total of 46,949 vehicles had passed through the tunnel, out of which 5 per cent did not have a tag detected.
HKeToll: Hong Kong’s Lion Rock Tunnel to start electronic payments on Sunday
Drivers who do not have the tag or a payment method set up will receive an electronic notice requiring them to settle the charges within 14 business days or face a surcharge of HK$175, raised to HK$350 after 21 days.
Earlier on Sunday, Commissioner for Transport Rosanna Law Shuk-pui was overseeing the final changes being made to the tunnel.
Law said on Facebook that a number of vehicles had queued up to pay in cash before the last toll booth closed at 4.30am, a deadline that was met only due to the tunnel operator’s “timely response”.
“This experience was of great value for us as it can help us with implementing the system at the Cross-Harbour Tunnel,” she said, referring to the city’s busiest harbour crossing used by more than 100,000 vehicles each day.
Smooth start on first working day for Hong Kong’s automatic tunnel fee system
Law added that the low traffic volumes on weekends contributed to the smooth launch on Sunday.
“Tomorrow’s rush hour will be the real test and we won’t let up,” she said.
Law previously stressed it was unlikely that the new system would initially ease congestion at the tunnel, adding vehicles would only move faster after motorists familiarised themselves with HKeToll.
The no-stopping toll collection system will be introduced at all government-owned tunnels within the year, including two of the three harbour-crossing links connecting Kowloon and Hong Kong Island.
