Withdrawal due to a lack of support from lawmakers

Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said on Tuesday the government will shelve the motion relating to the toll adjustment of the city's three cross-harbor tunnels until it takes back ownership of the Western Harbour Crossing in 2023.

The announcement came a day before the tunnel toll plan was scheduled to be tabled in the Legislative Council on Wednesday. This is the second time the government has withdrawn the proposal due to a lack of support from lawmakers.

The government deeply regrets the decision to drop the toll plan. "These regrets come as the city's traffic congestion issue remains unresolved," she added.

The rationale behind the decision is the government cannot get enough votes to ensure passage of the bill, Lam explained. The recall can avoid wasting the legislature's time, she said.

Earlier, lawmakers from different political parties voiced opposition on the tunnel toll adjustment in which the government proposed raising the fee of both the Cross-Harbour Tunnel and Eastern Harbour Crossing and reducing the fare of the Western Harbour Crossing. This aims to rationalize traffic distribution and ease traffic congestion.

Currently, the Western Harbour Crossing is the only privately owned tunnel among three harbor crossings in Hong Kong. As its toll is much higher than the other two, the tunnel's traffic flow is the least among the three.

According to the toll proposal, the toll for a private car at the western crossing will be lowered from HK$70 to HK$50, while the fare at the Cross-Harbour Tunnel will be increased from HK$20 to HK$40. Private car drivers who choose the eastern crossing will also pay more for the toll, from HK$25 to HK$40.

Secretary for Transport and Housing Frank Chan Fan said the government had made every effort to clarify the proposal and seek support from lawmakers; unfortunately it still had not garnered enough votes needed to achieve this.

In January, Chan withdrew the motion on the tunnel toll adjustment after several lawmakers voiced strong objections.

Moreover, according to the toll plan, the government also proposed waiving or paying the toll for franchised buses using all tunnels as well as Tsing Ma and Tsing Sha Control Areas to relieve fare increase pressure.

Although the proposal has been dropped, Chan said the government would continue to discuss relevant arrangements with the Western Harbour Tunnel Co Ltd to bring more benefits to residents.

Chan said more technological improvements would also be gradually introduced to enhance traffic management in Hong Kong and make the city more livable.

kathyzhang@chinadailyhk.com

(HK Edition 03/27/2019 page5)