Taxi drivers welcome 50-percent tunnel toll waiver

Taxi drivers have welcomed a 50-percent toll waiver on government-operated tunnels, saying the measure is better than nothing and will help cut their operating costs. The temporary concession, which took effect on Sunday, applies to all commercial vehicles — including buses, goods vehicles, light buses and taxis — using government tolled tunnels and the Tsing Sha Control Area. The waiver will last for two months, ending at midnight on July 16. One taxi driver said the reduction directly benefits drivers like him. "The toll is cut in half. I cross the harbour from time to time, so it is beneficial," he said. Another driver described the waiver as a modest relief. "For taxis, these two months will be a lot better. Cabbies will be more willing and will try to cross the harbour and to make return trips because we can save about HK$50. That's a bit of a relief," he said. A third cabbie agreed it’s better than nothing, but struck a cautious note. "It's better than nothing. Let's take it step by step and see after two months. We can't expect them to give this waiver to us for three months or half a year right away," he said. "Of course, a fuel subsidy would be better because the benefit would be more direct." In the early hours of Sunday, Commissioner for Transport Winnie Tse visited the HKeToll control centre, where she was briefed by the toll service provider on system adjustments and updates to toll information displays. She praised the multidisciplinary team — made up of staff from the Transport Department and the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department — for completing all necessary tests and implementing the waiver carefully, efficiently and smoothly. The Transport Department also reminded taxi passengers that they must continue to pay the full statutory tolls during the waiver period. The government had earlier announced several temporary measures to ease cost pressures on the transport and commercial sectors, citing persistently high oil prices driven by tensions in the Middle East. In addition to the 50-percent tunnel toll reduction and a HK$3-per-litre diesel subsidy already in place, a subsidy of 50 cents per litre for liquefied petroleum gas is expected to be rolled out this month for taxis, public minibuses and school buses. Edited by Tony Sabine