Overstay fines doubled at cross-border port car parks

The fine for overstaying at the Heung Yuen Wai cross-border car parks will go from HK$75 to HK$15 per hour from Friday next week, and only drivers who have made online bookings will be allowed to stay in any of the 400 spaces starting tomorrow.

The announcement came yesterday after the two car parks for the new land port - one for private cars and motorcycles and the other for freight trucks - were swamped by vehicles at the weekend. Spaces were fully occupied by overstaying vehicles.

So drivers who fail to make a prior booking will be out in the cold tomorrow.

The online booking system, suspended since Sunday, resumes operation from midnight Friday. And fees for drivers leaving later than their vehicle's reserved time slot will be increased to deter drivers from staying longer.

Standard parking rates now for people without bookings are HK$10 per hour, HK$80 per day and HK$60 for an overnight stay from 6pm to 8am the following day.

People with advanced bookings are charged HK$9 per hour, HK$70 per day and HK$55 for an overnight stay.

But from February 24 the fees will be HK$15 per hour, HK$150 per day and HK$80 for an overnight stay.

Drivers who fail to leave by the reserved time period expires will be charged HK$60 for each of the first two hours of the additional time and HK$75 per hour for the remaining hours. The previous overtime charges were HK$10 and HK$15 respectively.

Officials also said they are striving to provide more parking spaces near the border control point.

Recent years have seen authorities process several planning applications for converting private land near the control point into temporary car parks, and some of the plots have already been converted to private car parks.

The process for more such applications will continue and be "expedited as appropriate."

Authorities will also study developing government land near the port as temporary public car parks as well as considering more permanent spaces in the area.

New People's Party legislator Dominic Lee Tsz-king welcomed the latest arrangement so drivers who have made bookings should not be affected by people who drive in without making any arrangements.

He also backed the increases in fees as the higher prices should deter drivers from late.

"However, there was a fundamental design error at Heung Yuen Wai port car park as there were too few parking spaces," Lee added. "I appeal to the government to find suitable land nearby and set up temporary parking spaces."

Lee also said the Heung Yuen Wai port, which will become a major passenger port, is not equipped with sufficient public transport services.

He urged the Transport Department to launch public bus routes from the port to urban areas to take cross-border travelers to Kowloon directly. Otherwise, Lee said, Tai Wai and Tai Po districts near the port will be overwhelmed by inbound travelers.

Legislator Edward Lau Kwok-fan from the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong argued that the port should have at least 2,000 parking spaces.

He also suggested authorities include private parking spaces near the port in the online booking system so that drivers will have a better idea of the overall situation.

wallis.wang@singtaonewscorp.com