Govt To Re-table Toll Adjustment Plan On March 27

Transport Secretary Frank Chan says the government will re-table a motion to adjust cross harbour tunnel rates before the Legislative Council on March 27.

Despite the fact that the government had to shelve the motion in January because of opposition from lawmakers across the political spectrum, Chan announced on Friday that it will 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.

In a bid to appease lawmakers, Chan said the extra income generated from the raised fees will go into a fund aimed at improving road safety.

The transport chief also promised to complete a comprehensive review on how to better manage traffic between the three tunnels before 2023, when the franchise of the Western Harbour Crossing expires.

Some lawmakers from both the pro-government camp and the opposition already said they won’t support the new motion if the suggested tolls remain unchanged. But at a press conference, Chan said it’s the government’s duty to push through the motion.

“We need to make our best endeavour to push the toll rationalisation proposal through the Legco,” he said.

“Of course we realise that it’s not an easy task, as you have just mentioned about the kind of response from our legislative friends, but nonetheless that’s a duty we have to perform, and we need to seek a resolution at the legislature as to the way forward,” he added.

“I wouldn’t speculate on what’s going to happen in the days and months to come. But, our focus as of now is to make the best endeavour to convince our legislators to give us the green signal to go ahead,” he said.