Tunnel vision: Confusion surrounds attempts to sort out the Hong Kong cross-harbour toll mess

Analysts and the public were expecting action on the toll front when the government took over the Eastern Harbour Tunnel, but instead it ordered another study

Reading Time:6 minutes

The government was expected to act after it took over the Eastern Harbour Tunnel. Photo: SCMP Pictures

Published: 8:30pm, 22 Aug 2016Updated: 4:33pm, 18 Nov 2016

[Wesley Wan, Class of 1970] When the government took over management of the Eastern Harbour Tunnel from a private operator, Hongkongers were hoping it would use the opportunity to cut toll prices.

The Cross-Harbour Tunnel from Causeway Bay to Hung Hom exceeds its daily capacity by almost 50 per cent each day.

Meanwhile, the Eastern Harbour Tunnel, the product of the government’s “build-operate-transfer” model which saw it run for 30 years by franchisee New Hong Kong Tunnel Company, remained underutilised in the lead-up to the expiry of the franchise at the beginning of this month.

Many saw the franchise handover as an opportunity for the government to tackle the issue head-on and adjust tolls to encourage motorists to use the Eastern Harbour Tunnel and thereby lead to an easing of congestion through the altered traffic patterns.

But these hopes were dashed when transport minister Anthony Cheung Bing-leung poured cold water on the idea by ruling out any immediate toll adjustments.

Instead, he said the government would wait for the outcome of a toll adjustment study of the city’s three harbour crossings before mapping out the road ahead.