A Hong Kong car owner has been ordered to fork out more than HK$170,000 (US$21,800) to cover tolls, surcharges, penalties and costs of proceedings after failing to settle over 140 tunnel charges.
The Transport Department said on Friday that a magistrate had earlier ordered the vehicle owner to pay that sum after failing to settle 146 toll payments.
It said the magistrate also directed the department to refuse an application for renewal of the licence and transfer of ownership of the vehicle involved.
“Vehicle owners are legally required to pay tolls on time after using government tolled tunnels,” a department spokesman said.
“Offenders will be ordered to pay all outstanding amounts, penalties and costs of proceedings.”
Smooth transition to HKeToll at Hong Kong’s Cross-Harbour Tunnel
Smooth transition to HKeToll at Hong Kong’s Cross-Harbour Tunnel
He said the department would continue to take action against vehicle owners to recover outstanding tolls and refer cases to a magistrate.
The spokesman noted that the city’s electronic toll payment system, or HKeToll, had been implemented in all government tolled tunnels and the Tsing Sha Control Area since last May, and most vehicle owners paid on time.
But he added that a small number of vehicle owners had not paid tolls or raised disputes about them after repeated reminders from the service provider.
Reminders included text messages or emails to their registered electronic contact means as well as letters to their registered addresses.
“The Transport Department reminds vehicle owners that unless an automatic payment means has been set up and payment is successful, payment must be completed within 14 working days after using a government tolled tunnel,” he said.
Smooth launch for Hong Kong’s new electronic toll system at Lion Rock Tunnel
Smooth launch for Hong Kong’s new electronic toll system at Lion Rock Tunnel
According to the department, more than 810,000 vehicle tags have been issued, accounting for over 99 per cent of the city’s licensed vehicles.
HKeToll accounts have been opened for about 92 per cent of the vehicles. About 76 per cent of the cars have set up automatic payment methods.
The department urged car owners to install a vehicle tag, open an HKeToll account and set up automatic payment to enjoy the convenience of the system.
