Secretary for Transport and Logistics Lam Sai-hung (second from right) and other officials of the transport bureau explain the proposed toll plans for three road harbor crossings at a Wednesday news conference. (PHOTO / HKSAR GOVERNMENT)

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government is considering adjusting the tolls at the city’s three cross-harbor tunnels from August and introducing a toll schedule that is linked to the time of day, as officials seek to alleviate traffic congestion.

Officials aim to reduce the number of private cars using the crossings by 10 percent during rush hours.

Lawmakers and residents welcomed the proposal to adjust tolls at different times, and called for additional new approaches to ease traffic.

According to the government’s plan, which will be introduced to the city’s legislature for a first reading on Wednesday, the tolls for private cars at the busy Cross-Harbour Tunnel and Eastern Harbour Tunnel will increase to HK$30 ($3.82) from the current HK$20 and HK$25 respectively. Meanwhile, the charge for using the Western Harbour Tunnel will be reduced to HK$60 from the current HK$75.

For taxis, the tolls for the three tunnels will be set at HK$25 regardless of whether they are carrying passengers. The charge for other commercial vehicles, including trucks and buses, will be set at HK$50.

The new arrangements are expected to be implemented after the government takes over the Western Harbour Tunnel franchise on Aug 2.

In addition, time-dependent tolls for the three tunnels will be introduced no later than the end of this year.

During the morning and evening rush hours from Mondays to Saturdays, private cars will have to pay HK$60 for using Western Harbour Tunnel, and HK$40 for two other crossings. The tolls at all the three tunnels during daytime hours will be set at HK$30, and HK$20 for nonpeak hours.

On Sundays and public holidays, private cars will be charged HK$25 during daytime hours, and HK$20 for other times.

Between different charge periods, there will be a transition time of 20 to 30 minutes, during which tolls will be increased or reduced by HK$2 every two minutes.

Leung Sai-ho, assistant commissioner (Strategic Studies) of the Transport Department, said the adjustment aims to narrow the toll differences of the three tunnels and reduce detouring by price-sensitive motorists. The all-day fixed toll for taxis will also help taxi drivers reduce their reliance on the Cross-Harbour Tunnel and Eastern Harbour Tunnel.

Secretary for Transport and Logistics Lam Sai-hung said the changes would also benefit residents who do not often use the crossings. After the introduction of time-varying tolls, the expenses and time of buses crossing the harbor will also be reduced. It may lower the operation costs of bus companies and slow the hike of fares, he added.

Lawmaker Gary Zhang Xinyu of the New Territories North Constituency said the fixed toll of all three tunnels in normal time slots would better leverage the capacity of every crossing. Because of varied tolls, the Cross-Harbour Tunnel is far busier than the Western Harbour Tunnel during normal times.

Lawmaker Bill Tang Ka-piu said the all-day fixed toll for taxis would reduce disputes between passengers and drivers caused by the choice of routes. Yet he noted that all three tunnels are running at or close to full capacity, highlighting the need to build a fourth cross-harbor tunnel.

Chan Yuen-tung, who lives on Hong Kong Island and frequently drives to Kowloon to meet friends, said the change in tunnel tolls would affect her choice of routes.

As the toll of the Western Harbour Crossing is expected to be reduced by HK$15, she will use it more often in the future, adding that even with the toll hike, the Cross-Harbour Tunnel may still be crowded.

Taxi driver Chan Ga-leung said that the aim of constructing cross-harbor tunnels is to benefit local residents, and he believes there might be better ways to reduce traffic flows other than increasing the tolls of two frequently-used crossings.

He hopes the government will consider more the financial burdens of daily commuters, and actively explore other approaches to reduce traffic congestion.

Contact the writers at lindaxi@chinadailyhk.com