From 6 to 9am on the third working day after the Eastern Harbour Crossing's toll hike, the number of vehicles using the Cross Harbour Tunnel was up 4%, with 600 more vehicles compared with a normal Thursday, the Transport Department says, adding traffic in general remains normal.

Vehicles using the Western Harbour Crossing also rose 4%, with 210 more vehicles, while the Eastern Harbour Crossing saw a 19% drop, with 2,100 less vehicles.

The department continued to monitor the traffic situation of the cross-harbour traffic and maintained close communications with the Police, franchised bus companies and the tunnel management companies.

On May 4, the number of vehicles using the Cross Harbour Tunnel fell 0.2%, with 300 fewer vehicles, while the Western Harbour Crossing traffic rose 6.7%, with 2,760 more vehicles.

The Eastern Harbour Crossing recorded a 22% drop, with 16,570 fewer vehicles. The total number of vehicles using the three cross-harbour tunnels fell 5.8%, with 14,000 fewer vehicles, compared with a normal Wednesday.

The department appealed to the public to:

*plan their trips early, allow more time for travel and choose the most suitable route;

*pay attention to the weather and check traffic conditions by listening to radio/TV broadcasts or by visiting the Transport Department website before starting their journey;

*allow more time to travel to examination centres when attending public examinations;

*make full use of public transport, in particular the MTR and KCR;

*avoid using the Cross Harbour Tunnel during peak hours and use alternate routes when serious congestion occurs;

*be patient and comply with directions given by frontline Police officers.