New commercial vehicle toll waiver takes effect Sunday

A 50-percent toll waiver for all commercial vehicles will come to effect from May 17, the inter-departmental task force on monitoring fuel supply announced on Wednesday. All buses, goods vehicles, light buses and taxies using all government tolled tunnels and the Tsing Sha Control Area will benefit from the measure. "The targeted temporary measure aims to alleviate the operating costs of various types of commercial vehicles, and assist drivers and operators in coping with the pressure arising from rising fuel prices, aimed at easing the operating cost arising from higher fuel prices," the task force said in a statement. The temporary measure will last for two months until midnight on July 16. The task force said the Transport Department has steered the toll service provider to adjust the HKeToll system to ensure smooth implementation. "Commercial vehicle owners are not required to submit any application; they only need to pay the reduced amount as displayed in the system," it said. It also reminded taxi passengers that they must continue to pay the statutory tolls in full during the waiver period. Edited by Tony Sabine