Hong Kong will raise fines for traffic-related offences and increase fees for parking meters, Financial Secretary Paul Chan has said.
The new penalty rates have not been set, and the matter will be discussed by lawmakers, a government source told HKFP.
Chan also announced increased fees for electric car licences during his 2025 Budget speech at the Legislative Council on Wednesday.
Authorities will “review the annual licence fee for electric private cars, parking meter charges, as well as the fixed penalties for traffic offences for better traffic management,” he told lawmakers. “Based on preliminary estimation, the relevant adjustments could generate about HK$2 billion additional revenue per annum.”
The HK$2 fee for 15 minutes at parking meters has remained unchanged for three decades, while the HK$320 penalty for illegal parking has not changed since 1994.
Ming Pao cited sources on Wednesday as saying that jaywalking fines may rise from HK$600 to HK$700, whilst parking tickets may rise to HK$400.
A government source told HKFP on Wednesday that tunnel fees will also be reviewed within the year.
Spending cuts
Around 3 million illegal parking tickets were issued in 2023, generating HK$964 million in revenue for the government, police said last year, according to local media. A 2017 proposal to increase parking fines to HK$500 was rejected by lawmakers at the time, as was a follow-up suggestion to hike them to HK$400.
Chan opened his speech by describing the 2025 Budget as a “reinforced version” of the fiscal consolidation programme.
- HK logs estimated HK$87.2bn deficit, 7% spending cuts over coming 3 years.
- Democratic Party urges pay cut for senior officials
- Gov’t defends plan to axe HK$2,500 student subsidy
- Measures do not address poverty, Hong Kong NGO says
- Public transport subsidy cut back as threshold upped to HK$500.
- Hong Kong to halt commercial land sales on hold amid high vacancy rates.
- HK$1.2 billion earmarked to boost tourism.
- HK$1 billion set aside to set up AI research institute.
- Hong Kong taxpayers will see lower tax reduction in 2025-6.
- Pay freeze for gov’t employees, inc. civil servants, judges, and chief exec.
- Fines for traffic offences, parking meter fees to rise.
- Use of HK$2 transport scheme for elderly capped to 240 trips per month.
- Hong Kong airport tax to rise from HK$120 to HK$200.
- Hong Kong considers legalisation of basketball gambling.
- Activists call off traditional demo at gov’t HQ citing ‘immense pressure’.
Stay tuned to HKFP for full, trusted coverage of the 2025 budget.
“Strictly containing public expenditure is a must, but we should proceed in a steady and prudent manner and be careful to find a balance among the various impacts that may arise in the process,” he said.
More to follow – refresh for updates.
