Lawmakers on Wednesday passed a bill that will change tolls for Hong Kong's three harbour tunnels, as officials retake control of the Western Harbour Crossing.

Transport minister Lam Sai-hung said the government is determined to resolve the city’s long-standing congestion woes.

"Our target is to formulate a reasonable toll plan based on science, so as to manage the traffic, while taking into account the public's acceptability, and the operating environment of the transport sector," he said during the bill's debate in Legco.

Officials said the new charges will be brought in on August 2. Tolls for private cars will go up at the Cross-Harbour Tunnel and Eastern Harbour Crossing, from HK$20 and HK$25 respectively to HK$30.

Fees for the Western Harbour Crossing, meanwhile, will go down from HK$75 to HK$60.

Later in the year, the government will also implement a new time-based tunnel fee structure that will see motorists pay up to HK$40 if they use the Cross-Harbour and Eastern Harbour crossings during rush hours.