The government plans to increase the fixed penalty for illegal parking from HK$320 to HK$400, as well as double metered parking fees for private cars, according to sources.
The proposals, set for discussion at the Legislative Council’s Panel on Transport meeting on April 25, include raising the fine for illegal parking from HK$320 to HK$400 -- a 25 percent increase -- and hiking penalties for speeding and other traffic violations by 50 percent.
Meanwhile, sources said private car parking fees will jump from HK$2 to HK$4 per 15 or 30 minutes, while rates for trucks, buses, and tour coaches remain unchanged.
The Transport and Logistics Bureau said in a Facebook post that Hong Kong’s traffic fines and parking fees have not been adjusted in over 30 years, despite a 70 percent cumulative inflation.
It argued that current penalties are far lower than in cities like Singapore, London, and New South Wales, where fines for illegal parking can be 10 times higher and speeding penalties up to 22 times steeper.
Recent data shows a 40 percent year-on-year surge in fatal traffic accidents in the first quarter of this year, alongside persistently high illegal parking rates.
The bureau also cited congestion caused by drivers circling for metered spots, with a 90 percent occupancy rate across Hong Kong’s 20,000 metered spaces.
Current fees, significantly cheaper than regular parking lots, have led to double parking and prolonged occupancy, disrupting traffic, the bureau added.
Authorities said they have added over 2,000 metered spaces in recent years and are implementing short-, medium-, and long-term measures, including automated parking systems, to increase supply.
Separately, the bureau proposed shifting electric vehicle (EV) license fees from a weight-based system to one tied to rated power, aligning with the engine-capacity-based model for fuel-powered cars.
EV owners currently pay an average annual license of HK$1,100 – six times less than the HK$7,500 average for fuel-powered cars.
However, the bureau noted that weight-based fees no longer accurately reflect vehicle performance as EV batteries become lighter and more efficient.
The new five-tiered system, following models in Singapore, Italy, and Spain, will maintain lower EV fees but phase in adjustments over three years.
(Ayra Wang)
