Transport Commissioner Rosanna Law admitted on Tuesday that authorities have not done enough to promote a new e-toll payment system that was meant to be introduced this month but has now been put back until May.

The HKeToll system that will replace manual toll booths and autotoll lanes within the Tsing Sha Control Area will be launched on May 7, rather than February 26 as planned, after motorists and lawmakers complained its implementation has been too hasty.

On an RTHK programme, Law said around 240,000 vehicle owners out of a total of about 800,000 in Hong Kong have registered for a payment tag for the system, which will automatically take toll fees from users' bank accounts.

She said officials will step up publicity efforts.

“We made a detailed explanation in January. But perhaps back then we didn’t have an implementation day yet and people had been busy, so they did not pay much attention,” she said.

“There were short video tutorials showing people how to apply for a new tag for payment and how to attach it to their vehicles. But looking back, it was not quite enough.”

Law said the Transport Department will set up 20 service booths across the city to help people who have difficulties applying for a tag.

The postponement of the e-toll system affects about 40 toll booth workers.

Speaking on the same programme, the chairman of the Hong Kong Tunnel and Highway Employees’ General Union, Cheuk Wo-sin, said the management company involved notified workers on Monday that it will cancel a previously agreed severance arrangement.

Cheuk said some employees have found new jobs after they were told their last working day would be March 10, and they are now caught in a dilemma.

“It’s chaotic and the arrangement is problematic. Say, you told me I’d work until March 10 so I looked for a new job. If I stop working, I don’t have any income, so, perhaps my new job was going to start on March 11,” he said.

“Now that the Transport Department’s suddenly revoked its decision, if I were to go to the new job, I have to pay this [tunnel management] company one month of salary in lieu of notice. I will also lose my severance payment,” he said.

Cheuk urged the government to ask the company to consider dismissing the workers and reemploying them on short-term contracts, to minimise their losses.

In response, Law said authorities will work with the management company to find a solution.

“We will certainly find a solution accepted by everyone. Of course, some temporary workers may have to be employed in the worst case scenario,” she said, adding that she doesn’t think the operation of the tunnels will be affected.