Traffic flow on both sides of the harbour was smooth on the first working day after the Eastern Harbour Crossing revised its toll, thanks to media publicity and commuter co-operation in starting journeys earlier and making better use of public transport.

Secretary for the Environment, Transport & Works Sarah Liao said the evening peak traffic period came about an hour earlier. At 4.45pm Cross-Harbour Tunnel traffic ended at the Polytechnic University on Kowloon side, and at Oil Street westbound on the Island Eastern Corridor, the Red Cross Headquarters eastbound on Gloucester Road, and the Aberdeen Tunnel northbound.

From midnight to 4pm total tunnel traffic fell 6% (about 7,700 vehicles). Vehicles using the Cross-Harbour Tunnel rose 1% (about 870 vehicles) while those in the Western Harbour Crossing rose 5% (about 1,300 vehicles) and the eastern tunnel fell 22% (about 9,900) compared to a normal working day.

Dr Liao praised commuters for taking the Government's advice, resulting in a staggering of peak traffic periods. School and office-bound traffic peaked 30 to 45 minutes earlier in the morning, at 7.15am. As this eased at 9am, goods vehicle traffic became heavier.

Dr Liao said 8,000 additional passengers took the MTR during the two-hour peak period, which was crucial to smooth traffic flow. She called on commuters to make their travel changes today permanent, and to make more use of the Transport Department's traffic data.

However, she warned the Golden Week holiday likely contributed to today's fall in traffic and may resume next week. She urged commuters to remain vigilant, listen to radio broadcasts on traffic advice and to start their journeys earlier.