New time-adjusted tolls for Hong Kong’s harbor tunnels to kick in on December 10

New time-adjusted tolls at the city’s cross-harbor tunnels will be implemented at 5 am on December 10, with tolls differing according to the the time when drivers use them in a bid to improve the flow of traffic.

The Transport Department on August 2 implemented the “633” fixed toll scheme in the Western Harbour Crossing, Cross-Harbour Tunnel and Eastern Harbour Crossing.

Under the first phase of the “633” fixed toll scheme, the fixed toll for private cars using the Western Harbour Crossing will be lowered to HK$60, while that for the Cross-Harbour Tunnel and Eastern Harbour Crossing will be adjusted to HK$30. Cross-harbour taxis will be charged an all-day fixed toll of HK$25 for the three harbor crossings.

However, on December 10 when the second phase of the city’s toll scheme kicks in, tolls will be adjusted depending on the time of day to better manage the flow of traffic.

From Monday to Saturday, during the commuting rush from 7.30 am to 10.15 am and 4.30 pm to 7 pm, private cars will be charged HK$60 at the Western Harbour Tunnel and HK$40 at the Cross-Harbour Tunnel and Eastern Harbour Tunnel. The new peak-hour toll for the Cross-Harbour Tunnel is twice its current price.

All three tunnels will charge private cars HK$30 between 10.15 am and 4.30 pm and HK$20 between 7 pm and 7.30 am the next day.

For Sundays and public holidays, a simplified version of the charging scheme will apply, charging private cars HK$25 between 10.15 am and 7.15 pm and HK$20 for the rest of the day.

Meanwhile, to discourage motorists from rushing to cross before prices change, the tolls will increase or decrease by HK$2 every two minutes when transitioning to peak-hour or non-peak-hour periods until they reach the maximum rate.

Cross-harbour taxis will be charged an all-day fixed toll of HK$25 while commercial vehicles will be charged HK$50 at all three crossings.