The Transport Department today reminded vehicle owners who have received a vehicle tag but have not yet opened an HKeToll account to do so and set up the payment means, as the free-flow tolling service will be implemented in three tunnels from 5am on May 7.

The HKeToll service will be implemented in the Tsing Sha Control Area (TSCA) covering the Eagle’s Nest, Sha Tin Heights and Tai Wai tunnels to replace all manual toll booths and Autotoll lanes.

Motorists can pay tunnel tolls using toll tags, without having to stop or queue at toll booths for payment.

At a press briefing this afternoon, Commissioner for Transport Rosanna Law said: “In the two months since we postponed the launch of HKeToll at the Tsing Sha Control Area, we have been working very closely with the toll service provider to modify and adjust the system.

“I am happy to say that compared to February 13 when we announced the postponement of HKeToll, we had less than 300,000 vehicle tags issued. Today, we have issued over 660,000 vehicle tags, over two-thirds of which have also been associated with an account for payment. So this is a good development, we are encouraged by the development.”

Ms Law added that after installation of vehicle tags, motorists must open accounts and set up the payment means to pay tunnel tolls through the HKeToll service.

“For those vehicle owners who do not have a vehicle tag applied in time for the launch of HKeToll at the Tsing Sha Control Area on May 7, they can still use the tunnels as usual. They will be given notice to complete payment in arrears.

“They (will) need to do that within 14 working days, which is actually quite a long time. They can do so online, (through) the HKeToll website or mobile application for HKeToll, or they can generate a QR code and go to a convenience store (to pay).”

The customer service hotline 3853 7333 will operate 24 hours daily starting from May 7. The relevant customer service centres and consultation counters will continue to help members of the public handle the HKeToll service.

To tie in with HKeToll’s implementation, temporary traffic arrangements will be implemented in phases in the vicinity of the TSCA from 11pm on May 6.

The Eagle’s Nest, Sha Tin Heights and Tai Wai tunnels and their connecting roads will be temporarily closed from 2am to 5am on May 7.

Ms Law also revealed that the department will announce the exact commencement date for HKeToll at the Shing Mun Tunnels and the Lion Rock Tunnel shortly after the service’s launch at the TSCA.

The department reminded motorists not to remove the Autotoll tags at this stage, as other government tolled tunnels which have not yet implemented HKeToll will continue to use current toll collection methods of manual toll collection and Autotoll lanes.