Government defends $200 border fee, vows to strengthen GBA connectivity

The SAR government is determined to foster regional connectivity in the Greater Bay Area despite proposing to impose a HK$200 border construction fee on private vehicles leaving the city via land crossings, Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan said.

Speaking on a radio program on Monday, Chan emphasized that the proposal, outlined in the recent Budget, aims to generate revenue under the user-pays principle.

Chan addressed worries that the fee might impact the Northbound Travel for Hong Kong Vehicles scheme or discourage mainland drivers from visiting Hong Kong, saying the government remains committed to GBA integration and has carefully studied the potential effects of the proposal.

“Many residents already have convenient and fast options like high-speed rail to travel to the mainland,” Chan said, noting that private vehicles remain a popular choice for some, particularly under the Northbound Travel initiative via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge.

She assured that the government is mindful of the financial burden on residents and will balance revenue generation with public interests.

The budget proposal, which was thoroughly considered, will undergo further studies to assess traffic flow and fee collection methods.

"We are committed to the Greater Bay Area integration, and our efforts have shown positive results," Chan said.

In addition to the border fee, the government plans to increase parking meters and fines for illegal parking to address revenue shortfalls, she said.

Chan highlighted the challenges of parking shortages, particularly for commercial vehicles, and proposed optimizing public housing estate parking spaces by allocating them for day and night use.

Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po also defended the border construction fee proposal, saying that targeting private vehicle users -- who are generally more financially capable -- would minimize the impact on the broader public.

He noted that driving to the mainland only accounts for about 15 percent of annual cross-border trips while imposing taxes on all land-departing travelers would “disturb too many citizens”.

(Ayra Wang)