Hong Kong transport chief Frank Chan sticks to plan on proposed changes to tolls for harbour crossings

Scheme is the best the government can offer to ease long-standing traffic congestion, Chan tells lawmakers

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Tolls for the Cross-Harbour Tunnel would be increased under the proposal. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

Published: 7:36pm, 16 Nov 2018Updated: 11:28pm, 16 Nov 2018

Hong Kong’s transport chief has ruled out further changes to proposed toll increases on two of the three cross-harbour tunnels before 2023, saying the scheme is the best the government can offer to ease long-standing traffic congestion.

Secretary for Transport and Housing Frank Chan Fan stood firm at a Legislative Council transport panel meeting on Friday as lawmakers from both sides of the political divide expressed doubts about the proposal – to raise tolls on the Cross-Harbour Tunnel (CHT) and Eastern Harbour Tunnel (EHT), while lowering them on the Western Harbour Tunnel (WHT).

“This proposal is the ideal one that we have come up with after taking into consideration different options … We believe this can benefit overall society,” he told lawmakers.

Frank Chan says different options were considered. Photo: Edward Wong

Under the proposal unveiled in last month’s policy address to divert traffic between the three tunnels, private cars would pay HK$40 (US$5.10) to use the CHT and EHT – up from HK$20 and HK$25 – while crossing the western tunnel would cost HK$50, HK$20 less than the current charge.