The Government announced today (December 4) that the Chief Executive in Council yesterday (December 3) had approved the Road Tunnels (Government) (Amendment) Bill 2024 to be introduced into the Legislative Council (LegCo). The objective of the Bill is to provide a legal basis for the management and operation of the Tai Lam Tunnel after its takeover by the Government on May 31, 2025, and to stipulate the new tunnel tolls.

     A spokesperson for the Government said, "The Tai Lam Tunnel is one of the major transportation and logistics routes between the New Territories West/North and urban areas, and hence maintaining its smooth traffic is highly crucial. The Government will take the opportunity of taking over the Tai Lam Tunnel to implement the HKeToll, a free-flow tolling service, and set the new tunnel tolls, with the objectives of accommodating the public's expectations for a downward adjustment of tolls while meeting traffic management needs and supporting the operation of the transport trades."

     The details of the proposed toll plan under the Bill are set out as follows:

(1) The tolls for private cars will vary by time slots, ranging from $45 during peak time slots, $30 during normal time slot, to $18 during off-peak time slots on weekdays (i.e. Mondays to Saturdays (excluding public holidays)), with a reduction rate of between 22 per cent and 69 per cent compared with the current tolls; for Sundays and public holidays, private cars will be charged $18 throughout the day;
(2) Taxis will be charged an all-day uniform toll of $28, with a reduction rate of 52 per cent compared with the current toll;
(3) Commercial vehicles such as goods vehicles and buses will be charged an all-day uniform toll of $43 based on the "efficiency first" principle, with a reduction rate of between 33 per cent and 80 per cent compared with the current tolls;
(4) The tolls for motorcycles (including motor tricycles) will be set at 40 per cent of the tolls for private cars during the corresponding time slots; and
(5) Similar to the time-varying toll plans for the three road-harbour crossings, the Government will put in place a transition charging arrangement for bridging peak time slots, normal time slot and off-peak time slots in an orderly manner.

     The spokesperson said, "We believe that an appropriate downward adjustment of the tolls for the Tai Lam Tunnel could divert part of the traffic from Tuen Mun Road and Tolo Highway to the Tai Lam Tunnel, thereby improving the traffic conditions of the two highways and facilitating public commuting in the New Territories West/North. At the same time, this adjustment would attract commercial vehicles to use the Tai Lam Tunnel, which is conducive to the operation and development of the logistics industry. The Government will fully support the LegCo's scrutiny of the Bill and strive for its early passage."

     The Transport and Logistics Bureau and the Transport Department consulted the LegCo Panel on Transport in July this year on the takeover arrangements and tolling scenarios for the Tai Lam Tunnel, and exchanged views with various stakeholders and organisations, including the Transport Advisory Committee and transport trade representatives. The above proposals have holistically taken into account the views collected by the Government and the policy objectives mentioned above.
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     The Bill will be gazetted on Friday (December 6) for introduction into the LegCo for First Reading on December 11. For details of the Bill, please refer to the LegCo Brief issued today.

Ends/Wednesday, December 4, 2024
Issued at HKT 11:16

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