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Oscar Liu

Motorists may only have to pay between HK$18 (US$2.30) and HK$45 to use Hong Kong’s Tai Lam Tunnel, down from HK$58, after control is handed back to the government next year, the Post has learned.
A government source said on Monday that authorities were leaning towards implementing time-based tolls at the 3.8km tunnel in the northwestern New Territories, which would result in charges varying according to peak, regular and off-peak hours.
The insider said the government proposed to adjust the current HK$58 fixed tunnel fee for private cars to HK$45 during peak hours, HK$30 during regular hours, and HK$18 during off-peak hours.
Taxis and commercial vehicles would pay a flat rate throughout the day of HK$28 and HK$43, respectively.
“The proposal is expected to be submitted for Legislative Council review next month,” the insider said.
A consortium has operated the tunnel since 1995 under a build-operate-transfer model, with the franchise set to expire in May next year. It is a core part of Route 3 and connects Tsing Long Highway with the Ting Kau Bridge.
The government in July presented three proposed toll schemes at a Legco transport panel meeting. Two of the proposals were for fixed tolls, while one was for time-based fees.
Currently, the tolls at the tunnel are categorised based on vehicle types. Private cars and taxis are charged HK$58, motorcycles HK$28 and commercial vehicles such as trucks, minibuses and buses pay between HK$64 and HK$213.

Ben Chan Han-pan, chairman of the transport panel, said the proposed reduction in toll fees was particularly attractive for commercial vehicles in diverting traffic and alleviating congestion on Tuen Mun Road – an expressway connecting Tuen Mun and Tsuen Wan – as well as Tolo Highway.
More commercial or heavy vehicles would opt for the tunnel with the new lower charges and implementing time-based tolls would help to disperse traffic and ease congestion during peak hours, he said.
“The actual effectiveness may take some time to become evident because the proposed peak charge for private cars at HK$45 is still relatively high, so drivers might still opt for Tuen Mun Road,” Chan said.
Under the proposed tolls, taxis would pay a HK$28 flat rate all day, which Chan said was higher than the HK$25 fee for using the three cross-harbour tunnels and that aligning the fares could prevent confusion among drivers and residents.
Ryan Wong Cheuk-pong, chairman of the Hong Kong Taxi Council, stressed the tolls for cabbies should be lower than private vehicles throughout the day.
“Tunnel tolls for taxis should be reduced as much as possible as they are a form of public transport service, not a form of private transport,” Wong said.
“In terms of regulating toll fees, the government should focus on potentially reducing the usage and even the ownership rates of private cars. This would then improve the overall level of transport services in Hong Kong to reduce traffic jams.”
Wong argued authorities should send a message to residents and the industry that taking a taxi was cheaper than driving themselves, and hence it was not ideal that the toll or private cars would be HK$10 cheaper in non-peak hours.
“It could actually lead to even more rampant proliferation of illegal ride-hailing services, which is a major concern for us,” he said.
Meanwhile, lawmaker Scott Leung Man-kwong, who also sits on the transport panel, urged authorities to consider implementing tunnel fare combinations in later steps to further enhance a more even distribution of traffic flows.
“The government can consider more toll combos for drivers, for example, vehicles coming from North district through the Tai Lam Tunnel and Western Harbour Crossing could enjoy a cheaper fee than the other two [harbour crossings]. It could help distribute traffic flow more evenly,” Leung said.


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Hong Kong transport

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

Western Harbour Tunnel becomes Hong Kong’s busiest crossing after revamped tolls

Traffic queues at the entrance of the Central-bound Western Harbour Tunnel in West Kowloon. Photo: Jelly Tse

Secretary for Transport and Logistics Lam Sai-hung has said the government plans to build an additional lane at the exit of the Western Harbour Tunnel on Hong Kong Island next year. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Hong Kong transport authorities reject call to make Tai Lam Tunnel toll-free

Hong Kong lawmakers have called for the Tai Lam Tunnel to be toll-free once it returns to government control. Photo: Elson Li

News

Hong Kong

Transport

Authorities leaning towards implementing time-based tolls at the tunnel, government source says


Authorities leaning towards implementing time-based tolls at the tunnel, government source says.
