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The Eastern Harbour Crossing Legislation (Amendment) Bill 2015, which seeks to provide the necessary legal backing for the Eastern Harbour Crossing (EHC) to operate and be managed as a government tunnel on the expiry of the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) franchise next year, was gazetted today (December 11).
The 30-year BOT franchise of the EHC will expire on August 7, 2016. On the expiry of the franchise, the EHC will vest in the Government and become a government tunnel.
Similar to the arrangements on the expiry of the BOT franchise of the Cross-Harbour Tunnel in 1999, the Government's takeover of the EHC will bring no change to the actual tunnel operation. The prevailing toll levels will not be affected. Road traffic regulations in terms of traffic signs, procedures to apply for permits to carry dangerous goods, etc, will also not be affected.
"Generally speaking, from a tunnel user's point of view, there will be no difference before and after the Government's takeover," a government spokesperson said.
The Bill also seeks to repeal the Eastern Harbour Crossing Ordinance (Cap 215) and its subsidiary legislation which are the governing legislation of the EHC as a BOT tunnel. In addition, the Bill provides for the necessary savings and transitional arrangements, and includes consequential amendments to repeal the references to the Eastern Harbour Crossing Ordinance or the franchisee in other legislation.
The Bill will be introduced into the Legislative Council on December 16.
Ends/Friday, December 11, 2015
Issued at HKT 16:08
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