Carrie Lam Rules Out Changes To Tunnel Toll Plan

Chief Executive Carrie Lam on Friday ruled out any changes to the government's proposed toll adjustments for the three cross-harbour tunnels.

Speaking from Beijing where she is attending meetings on the Greater Bay Area, Lam said the proposed changes to the toll fares were scientifically proven to be able to even out traffic between the three tunnels.

The government plans to re-table a motion to adjust the tolls before the Legislative Council on March 27. This is despite the government having had to shelve its original motion in January, because of opposition from lawmakers across the political spectrum.

Transport secretary Frank Chan said earlier on Friday that it would maintain the original suggested toll adjustments in the latest non-binding motion.

This means fees for private cars at the Cross Harbour Tunnel and the Eastern Harbour Crossing will be raised to HK$40, while the toll at the Western Harbour Crossing will be lowered to HK$50.

The chief executive said officials will try their best to lobby lawmakers and stakeholders over the proposal. And she said the government would not discuss the issue further in the next three years, until the government takes back the Western Harbour Crossing in 2023.

Some lawmakers indicated they would not be supporting the government's latest motion.

Ben Chan from the pro-government DAB party said his colleagues were "disappointed" that the government had refused to change their toll adjustments, saying the re-tabled motion offered hardly anything new. Chan said he had "strong reservations" and found it hard to support the plan at this stage.

Alice Mak from the Federation of Trade Unions said they still had doubts about whether the government's proposal could solve traffic congestion.

The Civic Party's Jeremy Tam said they had been hopeful that the government would make changes after withdrawing their motion in January, and minor tweaks were not enough to win their support.