The transport industry yesterday suggested reducing tolls at the Eastern and Western harbor tunnels by half for vehicles without passengers in a bid to have a more balanced travel volume among the three harbor tunnels.

According to Taxi and Public Light Bus Concern Group chairman Lai Ming-hong, among the three harbor tunnels, many drivers prefer using the Cross Harbour Tunnel (CHT) in Hung Hom because its toll is much cheaper than the tolls for the Eastern Harbor Tunnel (EHT) and Western Harbor Tunnel (WHT).

For example, a taxi driver would only have to pay HK$10 using the CHT, but the charge is HK$40 at the WHT.

According to statistics of the Transport Department in March, more than one million taxis used the CHT every month.

Comparatively, only an average of over 300,000 taxis used the more expensive WHT every month.

To reduce congestion at the CHT, the transport trade suggests reducing tolls for vehicles with no passengers at both the Eastern and Western tunnels, Lai said.

The toll concession, as Lai estimated, will bring New Hong Kong Tunnel Company Limited, operator of the two tunnels, an extra income of HK$183 million every year.

He said they have submitted the suggestions to the government.

A spokeswoman for the Transport and Housing Bureau replied that the government has always encouraged the Eastern and Western harbor tunnels to provide concessions for all kinds of vehicles to boost traffic volume.

She noted that the locations of the tunnels and their tolls are contributing to the huge discrepancies in traffic volume.

The government will continue to study ways to resolve the issue, she said.

Among the various ways that the government have taken under advisement is legislation for toll adjustment for the CHT, she said.

New Hong Kong Tunnel Company Limited did not return phone calls seeking comment before press time.

(HK Edition 06/20/2008 page1)