Hong Kong to explore tiered tolls for commercial vehicles using harbour tunnels
- Government says it will consider proposal during one-year observation period
- ‘We need data from a one-year cycle to conduct a more comprehensive analysis and review,’ Secretary for Transport and Logistics Lam Sai-hung says
The government has agreed to consider a proposal by lawmakers to vary the tolls for commercial vehicles using Hong Kong’s cross-harbour tunnels, saying it will study data on usage for a year.
Authorities also said on Friday they would explore the possibility of adjusting the length of peak hour periods, which incur the highest charges across all three cross-harbour tunnels, to lower the cost for drivers.
“Based on past experience, there are seasonal changes in traffic, which is why we need data from a one-year cycle to conduct a more comprehensive analysis and review,” Lam said during a transport panel meeting at the Legislative Council.
Lawmaker Lo Wai-kwok opposed a blanket charge of HK$50 (US$6.4) for all commercial vehicles, saying that fees should vary based on the size of vehicles instead.
“This is not only from a traffic redistribution perspective but from a livelihood perspective. It will be fairer if minibuses or vans are charged HK$25 instead, just like taxis. Larger vehicle operators can afford the HK$50 fee if not more,” Lo said.
Labour sector lawmaker Chau Siu-chung said delivery van operators felt the pressure of the HK$50 toll, but were hesitant to pass on the costs to their customers in a bid to keep customers.