What does everybody think about the crazy situation that we have here with the cross-harbour tunnels. For those who don't know,
we have 3 tunnels to Hong Kong Island. One costs $15, one costs $20 and, until a few days ago, one cost $40. The one that costs
$40 is the newest and widest - 3 lanes compared to the others 2-lanes, but nobody uses it because it's too expensive. As a result it's
running at a loss. Most drivers use the $15 tunnel and it's always congested - what a surprise. So what have they now done about the
$40 tunnel to try to get more business. They've increased the price to $45.

Are these people STUPID!!!!! I must admit I have a vested interest because I cross the harbour almost every day, using the congested
$15 tunnel. I wouldn't mind paying a little more, but I'm never going to pay $45 when I can cross for $15. Don't forget, I have to
cross both ways, so that would be an extra $60 per day.

Hongkongers are smart business people people. Can anybody explain the rationale for spending billions of dollars building a cross harbour
tunnel and then charging such a high price that nobody's using it and it's running at a loss? All I can guess is that they're trying t force
the government to buy the tunnel and thereby make a quick profit, rather than actually operating it to make a profit many years in the
future. Sometimes, I really hate business people.

OK, that's my rant for today.

Jake, I know you use Autotoll so you're not up to speed ....

The cross harbour (Hung Hom) tunnel is $20 (has been for more then 15 years)
The eastern tunnel is $25 (increased from $20 about 2-3 years ago)
The western tunnel is now $45

The Hung Hom tunnel belongs 100% to our government and if they want to increase
the toll most of the parties in Legco will vote it down.

I too don't understand why putting up prices would increase revenues based on the economics
of demand and supply. Infact logically bringing down prices to increase volume would mean better
revenues.

You're right bro; I never even open the monthly statement.      

twicewaweek:

hear hear on the laws of supply and demand...better still perhaps the govt should buy back the two tunnels...we have enough moneyin the coffers and after all these are properties of strategic interest which should not fall 100% into the hands of private enterprise.

The Govt has a vested interest in keeping the car having difficulties going back and forth through these tunnels. Let them MTR i'd say.....make it even more expensive.......
Green HK....and all...




BTW before you all flame me, I use the tunnel every day too.....the eastern harbour one, a tad bit easier and quicker from Lantau to HK (Sadly having to bypass Western harbour crossing - thereby spending more fuel, pollution.......dammm. cant win it either way, the environment is a goner).

We all wanna save the environment, but we have to be realistic. People love their cars and they're never gonna give them
up. So we have to find other ways to reduce pollution.

Me? I'd start by getting rid of all them damn busses.  

Jake, I feel you on this subject! And the lines for the toll are absolutely ridiculous!

As an alternative, you might want to try taking the public transportation to work. It's much cheaper, albeit it has its down sides of course. I have a car but I rarely even drive it because its just such a pain in the ass.

Jake,
Your proposal is simply not ok. I am surprised that an intelligent person such as you would propose this. The only way this would work if you would be willing to give lift to the young, beautiful ladies who take the bus

the western harbour tunnel is to service wealthy factory owners who live in HK mid-levels and above. They don't want to sit in traffic on their way up to PRC and $45 is their chickens feed.  How many double plate Porsche Kayens have been seen in town?

Personally if I use only this tunnel is possible... and i have not a factory in China... but i wish i do. I like to make sex toys with big RD facility!!!


[ Last edited by  test3 at 22-2-2008 22:03 ]

I use the WHT but I don't go to China, sometimes its just convenient if I'm in a hurry.
But the additional $25 is steep !

Man, you guys call these tunnels steep at $25 HKD, roughly under 4 USD.  Try living in NYC, where coming in from Jersey will run you $8 USD and coming into lower Manhattan will soon also run $8 on top of another toll depending on where you may be coming from.  Coming in from Jersey will run you $16 USD (about 115 hkd) and if you take other tunnels it will run you about $13 just to get into the city.  I would gladly pay $25 HKD for any toll in NYC.

But at least you still have relatively cheap gas. Prices here are more than double the US.

We are paying 3.35 a US gallon for regular here, premium gas is about 3.60 a US gallon.  Still expensive, considering that I drive a super gas guzzler that gets about 12 miles per gallon.

Here it's now HK$14.8/litre, which works out at US$7.2/US gallon. I currently have a BMW 325 and
get around 20 miles/gallon. but I'm really thinking about getting the BMW X5  - an SUV. Not sure
if I can afford it.  

As of yesterday the price for reg. gas is $15.10 / Lit.

get a hybred Jake !  

Actually I said additional $25 so its $45 to cross the WHT.
You guys there make a lot more then us guys here ...

Those prices are absolutely sick, if I were in HK, I would be driving a toyota yaris or a prius.  I am planning to trade in my GX470 for a 4 cylinder camry or a camry hybrid.  A 600-800 dollar gas bill per month is simply uncalled for.  I already did the calculations, I would be paying about half if I drove a camry, enough to cover a new car, if paid monthly.

Yeah, but a car is more than something to get us from point A to point B. A car tells people who we are and what we are.
And I BELONG behind the wheel of a brand new BMW X5 goddammit. I would be complete.    

The thing with buying a car in HK is much more expensive that buying a car in the States, I have heard almost double because of taxes and whatnot.  We too are very materialistic in the US, but cars do not define us simply because it doesn't take much to own an X5.  Take my GX470 for example, I have great credit, I get 0% financing for 5 fucking years!  So what do I do?  I put down 15000 and finance it interest free at 700 a month for the next 5 years, I am making out like a bandit since inflation is killing us too.  Does that mean I am rich?  Nah... it simply means that I can make the car payments to keep my ride.  This goes for ANY luxury car if you can find the right financing.  It's not like HK where cars are simply out of range for the average Joe, my GX was like 60k USD total, taxes and all fees inclusive.  In HK, it would probably be close to 120k USD, according to my friends from HK.  

Tell me how much would an 08' X5 cost out the door in HK?

In the states, the 4.8 would run about 60k out the door, the 3.0 would be about 56K out the door.  I'd bet it would cost a lot more in HK.  Perhaps that is why the AUTOMOBILE is the standard social trendsetter in HK, I mean I am not saying that it is  like HK here, but I would not mind driving a db7 around Manhattan and see how fast I could get some pussy, know what I'm saying?

If I remember correctly, the X5 3.0 is about HK$750,000 (almost US$100,000)
I'm sure the reason why Jake wants this car is because with the seats folded down at the back
he can use it as a mobile bed !  He'll give rides to unsuspecting young girls and ........