The Chief Executive in Council yesterday approved the Road Tunnels (Government) (Amendment) Bill 2024, to be introduced into the Legislative Council, in an effort to provide a legal basis for the management and operation of Tai Lam Tunnel after its takeover by the Government on May 31 next year, and to stipulate new tunnel tolls.

As described in the details of the proposed toll plan under the bill, the tolls for private cars will vary by time slots, ranging from $45 during peak time slots, $30 during normal time slots, to $18 during off-peak time slots on Mondays to Saturdays (excluding public holidays). This represents a reduction rate of between 22% and 69% compared with the current tolls. On Sundays and public holidays, private cars will be charged $18 throughout the day.

Taxis will be charged all-day uniform toll of $28, amounting to a 52% reduction rate compared with the current toll.

Meanwhile, based on the “efficiency first” principle, commercial vehicles, such as goods vehicles and buses, will be charged an all-day uniform toll of $43, constituting a reduction rate of 33% to 80% compared with the current tolls.

The tolls for motorcycles (including motor tricycles) will be set at 40% of the tolls for private cars during the corresponding time slots.

A transition charging arrangement will be put in place for bridging peak time slots, normal time slots and off-peak time slots in an orderly manner.

The Government said that it will take the opportunity of taking over Tai Lam Tunnel to implement HKeToll and set new tunnel tolls, in order to accommodate the public’s expectations for a downward adjustment of tolls while meeting traffic management needs and supporting the operation of the transport trades.

An appropriate downward adjustment of the tolls could divert part of the traffic from Tuen Mun Road and Tolo Highway to Tai Lam Tunnel, thereby improving the traffic conditions of the two highways and facilitating public commuting in the New Territories West/North, it explained.

The adjustment would also attract commercial vehicles to use Tai Lam Tunnel, which is conducive to the operation and development of the logistics industry, the Government added.

The bill will be published in the Government Gazette this Friday for introduction into LegCo for the first reading on December 11.