Govt Drops Motion Bid, But Tunnel Toll Plan Stays

The government has dropped its plan to table a Legco motion on a tunnel toll adjustment scheme in face of strong opposition from lawmakers, but Transport Secretary Frank Chan said it hasn't given up on the controversial plan.

The proposal aims to raise tolls for the Cross Harbour Tunnel and the Eastern Harbour Tunnel, and lower fees for the privately run Western Harbour Tunnel, as the government believes levelling the tolls will even out traffic and ease congestion.

But lawmakers across the political spectrum have voiced strong opposition to the plan, which was to come into effect in 2020.

Speaking at a hastily arranged meet-the-media session just hours after he said there was still hope that the motion would be passed, Chan said the government had failed to secure enough support from the legislature.

But he said officials will continue to lobby legislators for their support for the plan. Chan said now that the Central-Wanchai Bypass has partially opened, legislators will be able to better assess the situation.

He did not respond when asked whether the government had made a wrong political judgement on the toll issue.

After announcing the proposal during her Policy Address, Lam had said that if lawmakers do not support the idea, she will simply abandon the plan and move on.

This is the second time in a month that her administration has been forced to change ways after objections from Legco.

Earlier this month, changes being made to an elderly welfare scheme also attracted the wrath of lawmakers and the government was forced to announce a remedial measure to pacify the legislators.

Roundtable lawmaker Michael Tien said the move to withdraw the motion was wise.

He said before considering what action to take on tunnel fees, the government should wait to see what effect the new Central-Wan Chai Bypass has on traffic once it is fully open.

New People's Party chairwoman and executive councillor Regina Ip agreed with Tien, and added that the best time to look at changing tunnel charges would be after the government takes ownership of the Western Harbour Tunnel in 2023.