Operation and toll ticket arrangements for Eastern Harbour Crossing upon franchise expiry
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     The Transport Department (TD) today (August 1) announced the operation and toll ticket arrangements upon expiry of the Eastern Harbour Crossing (EHC) franchise.

     The EHC will be taken over by the Government on August 7 and become a government tunnel. The Road Tunnels (Government) Ordinance and its subsidiary legislation will be applied in the tunnel area of the EHC. There will basically be no change to operational arrangements such as the prevailing toll levels, as well as the requirements for application of permits.

     Motorists using toll tickets are reminded that toll tickets issued by the current franchisee (i.e. the New Hong Kong Tunnel Company Limited) will not be accepted for payment of tolls at the EHC from August 7. At the same time, Government toll tickets can be used in the EHC. Disabled drivers can produce disabled driver toll tickets to give to toll collectors when using the EHC from the same day.
       
     The new denominations of Government toll tickets for the EHC are available for sale at government tunnel ticket sale outlets starting today. Government toll tickets can be used at the EHC from August 7.

     "Traffic in manual toll lanes will be briefly stopped for about three to four minutes at about midnight on August 7 to facilitate transitional arrangements. Traffic in the autotoll lane will not be disrupted. Motorists should follow the instructions of tunnel staff,” a spokesman for the TD said.

     For enquiries on the operation and toll levels of the EHC, members of the public may browse the TD’s website at www.td.gov.hk. For enquiries on the toll tickets issued by the current franchisee, please contact New Hong Kong Tunnel Company Limited at 3428 5691.

Ends/Monday, August 1, 2016
Issued at HKT 16:30

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