The story
In June 1992, The Autopass Co. Ltd. introduced the electronic toll collection system (ETC) to Hong Kong and conduct the first testing phase at The Aberdeen Tunnel. In August 1993, ETC system was installed at a few more crowded tunnels, including Cross-Harbour Tunnel, Eastern Harbour Crossing and Lion Rock Tunnel. The system further applied to Western Harbour Crossing in May 1997, Tai Lam Tunnel in June 1998 and Cheung Tsing tunnel in July 1998.
In September 1995, Electronic Toll Systems Ltd. had developed another electronic toll collection system. It was then installed at Tate's Cairn Tunnel for testing and further expended to Shing Mun Tunnels and Tseung Kwan O Tunnel in October 1997. This system is not compatible with the one from The Autopass Co. Ltd. Besides, the Lantau Link and Tai Lam Tunnel originally planned to use this system too. Due to the merger of these two systems in 1998, the system from The Autopass Co. Ltd. was used instead.
Since the two individual systems had brought inconvenience to motorists, the Autopass Co. Ltd. and Electronic Toll Systems Ltd. merged the systems on 1 October 1998 with the support from Hong Kong Government. And the system was renamed as Autotoll. The service continued at the 9 tunnels and 1 toll road and further expanded to Eagle's Nest Tunnel and Sha Tin Heights Tunnel.
Autotoll has launched the “AutoPark” service in 2006. Vehicles with Autotoll Tag can register “AutoPark” service for free and park at the designated carparks with the barrier gate rising automatically for driving in and out.
On 7 May 2023, the Transport Department has announced to implement HKeToll (Chinese: 易通行) to replace Autotoll in toll tunnels, so that toll booths can be demolished, after replacement, Autotoll will only serve HZMB toll station and, through AutoPark, the remain toll parking lots. The HKeToll system will continue be operated by Autotoll Limited.
From Wikipedia’s article on Autotoll, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.4