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Vivian Au

Hong Kong lawmakers have called for further cuts to tolls at Tai Lam Tunnel during off-peak hours, beyond the government’s proposed reduction in charges set to take effect in May.
Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan said on Friday that the tunnel could see increased usage if there was a deeper drop in tolls, stressing that authorities would need to maintain a macro view on traffic management.
“Our main concern is to prevent traffic congestion,” she told lawmakers.
The Transport and Logistics Bureau last month floated a proposal of time-varying fees for the tunnel, which connects Yuen Long with western Tsuen Wan, after control is handed back to the government in May.
Under the plan, tolls range from the steepest at HK$45 (US$5.80) during peak hours on weekdays and Saturdays, to HK$30 during normal time slots, and HK$18 for off-peak hours between Monday and Saturday, and throughout Sundays and public holidays.
Taxis and commercial vehicles will be charged an all-day uniform toll of HK$28 and HK$43, respectively.
A consortium has operated the tunnel since 1995 under a build-operate-transfer model, with the franchise set to expire in May.
Lawmaker Michael Tien Puk-sun said it was not justified for the government, which did not cover the construction cost of the tunnel, to require passengers to pay for their the use of the facility.
He said the proposed toll during rush hours should be HK$40 instead of HK$45.
Tien also noted that Tuen Mun Road was free to use and asked why the authorities were going to charge for the tunnel after it took over in May.
“Is the government charging for the Tai Lam Tunnel just because [the former management] previously charged others?” he asked.

Lawmaker Johnny Ng Kit-chong also said that some residents still felt the newly proposed tolls were too expensive for them.
He asked whether maintenance of the tunnel could be cheaper if it was managed together with other government ones, adding that this could result in lower tolls.
Chan said the proposed toll levels were based on the principle of “users bearing their costs” and “recovering expenses [of the tunnel],” and the government would review whether there was still room for adjusting fees during off-peak hours under this rule.
She added that the bureau would monitor the usage trends of the tunnel for six months after the tolls were applied.
In a related development, Chan told a local newspaper that the latest feasibility study results showed that the alignment of the proposed East Kowloon mass transit system might need to shift “a bit to the left”, resulting in the creation of a new station tentatively named Lam Tin North.
The newly created station could benefit tens of thousands of residents from three public housing estates in Lam Tin, she said.
According to a paper submitted by the government to the legislature in June, the proposed East Kowloon railway line will be a 7km (4.3 mile) “smart and green mass transit system” in the area, including a 1km tunnel and eight stations, between Choi Hung East and Yau Tong East.
The bureau earlier said that it aimed to complete the work by 2033, which included determining alignment and station locations for the project, as well as an assessment of the impact on the environment and cultural heritage.


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The government is considering lowering tolls for private cars using Hong Kong’s Tai Lam Tunnel. Photo: Jelly Tse

The Tai Lam Tunnel toll plaza in Pat Heung, Yuen Long. Photo: Jelly Tse

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The government will take over operation of Tai Lam Tunnel on May 31 next year. Photo: Elson Li

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Tai Lam Tunnel is a core part of Route 3 and connects Tsing Long Highway with the Ting Kau Bridge. Photo: Elson Li

Tuen Mun Road is often hit by congestion. Photo: Felix Wong

News

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Transport

Transport authorities last month proposed time-varying fees for the route linking Yuen Long with western Tsuen Wan


Transport authorities last month proposed time-varying fees for the route linking Yuen Long with western Tsuen Wan.


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