Anthony Cheung speaks through an interpreter
The Secretary for Transport, Anthony Cheung, has rejected calls from lawmakers to reduce the toll at the Eastern Harbour Crossing after the government takes back control of it next year.
Cheung was grilled by lawmakers from both the pro-government and pan-democratic camps at a Legislative Council transport panel meeting. But he insisted the toll should not be lowered as it would cause more traffic congestion in both the Hong Kong East and Kowloon East districts, which the tunnel links.
But he said the government would study how to better rationalise traffic distribution between the three cross-harbour tunnels after the Central-Wan Chai Bypass opens.
The Eastern Harbour Crossing has been managed by the New Hong Kong Tunnel Company over the past 30 years. The government announced on October 27 that it will take back control of the tunnel when the franchise expires in August next year.
Cheung was grilled by lawmakers from both the pro-government and pan-democratic camps at a Legislative Council transport panel meeting. But he insisted the toll should not be lowered as it would cause more traffic congestion in both the Hong Kong East and Kowloon East districts, which the tunnel links.
But he said the government would study how to better rationalise traffic distribution between the three cross-harbour tunnels after the Central-Wan Chai Bypass opens.
The Eastern Harbour Crossing has been managed by the New Hong Kong Tunnel Company over the past 30 years. The government announced on October 27 that it will take back control of the tunnel when the franchise expires in August next year.
http://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1221978-20151106.htm
