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The Transport Department announces today (Thursday) the traffic and tunnel operation arrangements for the transition of the Cross-Harbour Tunnel (CHT) franchise on August 31.

The current 30-year franchise of CHT will expire on August 31, whereupon the CHT will vest in the Government. The Hong Kong Tunnels and Highways Management Company Limited, the management contractor of the Transport Department, will manage, operate and maintain the CHT from September 1 onwards.

The Hong Kong Tunnels and Highways Management Company has retained the existing management team and operation staff of the CHT and will maintain the existing procedures and standards to manage and operate the tunnel.

Meanwhile, the new tolls for private cars and motorcycles will take effect after the transition at 0001 hours on September 1.

The tolls for private cars and motorcycles will be increased from $10 to $20 and from $4 to $8 respectively. The tolls for other classes of vehicles will remain unchanged. The toll for taxis will remain at $10.

A Transport Department spokesman said: " The transition will take place at the midnight of August 31.

"Both the Hong Kong Island and Kowloon bound traffic will be stopped briefly for a few minutes when the transition takes place."

The brief stoppage is required to facilitate the change over of management, especially for the termination of toll collection account by the outgoing franchisee and the activation of computer system to collect new tolls by the new operator.

"We shall monitor the transitional arrangements and work closely with the existing franchisee and the new operator to ensure that the transition will be smooth.

"Tunnel users are advised to drive with care and patience and to follow the instructions of the tunnel staff.

"Drivers of private cars and motorcycles are also reminded to make available appropriate cash or prepaid tickets before passing the tunnel booth to avoid unnecessary delay."

On the arrangement of prepaid tickets, the spokesman said those issued by the current franchisee, the Cross-Harbour Tunnel Company Limited would continue to be accepted for payment of tolls at CHT until February 29, 2000.

"While prepaid tickets are presented, they have to be topped up by cash to pay for the appropriate toll where necessary."

Ticket holders can also choose to get refund for their unused prepaid tickets from the Cross-Harbour Tunnel Company Limited. They can claim for the refund either by post or in person at the Cross-Harbour Tunnel Administration Building, Hung Hom, Kowloon before February 29, 2000.

Once verified, the Cross-Harbour Tunnel Company Limited will send the refund by cheque to the address provided by the claimant. For further details of the refund arrangement, ticket holders can approach the Cross-Harbour Company Limited at telephone 2333 4141.

The prepaid tickets for vehicles of consulates and disabled drivers, which are exempted from passage tax, will become invalid from September 1 onwards, after the transfer of CHT to Government.

Holders of these tax-exempted tickets can apply for refund at the department's licensing offices before February 29, 2000. They can call at 2804 2642 and 2771 4306 for enquiries.

Similar to the arrangement of other government tunnels, vehicles driven by disabled drivers will be exempted from toll payment by producing the disabled driver tickets to toll collectors when using the CHT from September 1 onwards.

The new prepaid tickets for the CHT will be available for sale at the Cross-Harbour Tunnel Administration Building and other government tunnel tickets sale outlets from August 28 onwards. These tickets can be used at the CHT from September 1, 1999.

End/Thursday, August 26, 1999

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