The Transport Advisory Committee today discussed the fare-adjustment application from the New Territories taxi trade and will submit its recommendation to the Chief Executive in Council.

Committee chairman Teresa Cheng said in deliberating the application, members took into account changes in revenue and operating costs, the impact of the fare adjustment on passengers, public acceptability, and the revised fare-structure policy the committee recommends.

It was also briefed on the Government's objective to improve the three cross-harbour tunnels' utilisation.

"Members understand that due to the differences in their locations and toll levels, the distribution of traffic among the three road harbour crossings has been uneven," Ms Cheng said. "We agree the Government should find a solution to achieve reasonable traffic distribution among the three tunnels."

The committee also noted the Government has commissioned a 12-month consultancy study for a comprehensive analysis on all factors and options to rationalise the tunnels' utilisation.

"In addition we note the capacity of the connecting road networks also has major bearing on the optimal traffic flow of the three tunnels," she said. "We expect the administration to work closely with the consultant and hope long-term measures conducive to the rationalisation of traffic flow among the three tunnels will be identified."