The latest budget proposal includes a study on imposing a boundary facilities fee on private vehicles departing through land boundary control points, sparking significant discussion.
Transport and Logistics Bureau Secretary Mable Chan emphasized in a radio program that the Hong Kong government is committed to promoting integration within the Greater Bay Area, and considerations for this integration were taken into account when proposing the study.
Chan noted that residents currently have various means to travel to the mainland, including high-speed rail, land crossings, private cars, and cross-boundary buses. She explained that the operation and maintenance of these ports involve certain expenses, and the government aims to explore revenue sources based on the principle of "user pays" and those who can pay more should pay more.
Regarding whether to charge fees for other land travel methods, Chan stated that the affordability for citizens must be considered. She stressed that any new fees would need to balance government revenue with their impact on the public.
Chan also pointed out that some tunnels in Hong Kong have not seen a fee increase in over 30 years, including the Aberdeen Tunnel and the Shing Mun Tunnels. The government plans to study fee adjustments while considering the "user pays" principle and the potential for traffic diversion.
On the topic of adjusting parking meter fees, Lam revealed that the number of parking meters has increased from 17,000 to nearly 20,000 in recent years. The government hopes to accelerate the turnover of parking spaces through fee adjustments and is exploring innovative solutions to alleviate parking shortages. This includes considering flexible use of truck parking spaces in public housing markets and shopping malls, allowing different types of vehicles to park at various times, and possibly allocating some nighttime spaces for school buses and nanny vans.
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