TD reminds public of termination of Autotoll ETC and VGoPAY services from March 16
The Transport Department (TD) today (March 9) reminded the public that Autotoll Limited announced earlier it will terminate all services of the Autotoll's Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) and VGoPAY e-wallets starting from 0.00am next Monday (March 16), after which these stored value facilities can no longer be used for tunnel tolls and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) toll payments.
The TD again urged current Autotoll ETC or VGoPAY users paying tunnel tolls to immediately switch to other auto-payment means via the HKeToll website (www.hketoll.gov.hk) or mobile app. For the HZMB, Autotoll ETC users yet to apply for the Unitoll service must stop and pay at the manual toll lanes starting from next Monday.
A spokesman for the TD said that it has instructed the HKeToll toll service provider to proactively remind Autotoll ETC and VGoPAY users to switch to other auto-payment means promptly to avoid disruption. The TD will maintain close liaison with the regulatory authority concerned and has requested Autotoll Limited to properly follow up with its users.
Members of the public may call the HKeToll 24-hour customer service hotline at 3853 7333 for enquiries about setting up auto-payment means for HKeToll; or call Autotoll's customer service hotline at 2627 8888 regarding the HZMB toll payments using Unitoll, as well as arrangements for cancelling Autotoll ETC or VGoPAY accounts or applying for refunds of account balances without delay.
The Transport Department (TD), Photo by Bastille Post
New names for tropical cyclones in 2026
The Hong Kong Observatory said today (June 8) that nine new names, Koki, Gaeguri, Dim-sum, Hebi, Tomo, Tirou, Narae, Burapha and Hoaban, have been introduced to the list of tropical cyclone names in the western North Pacific and the South China Sea in 2026 to replace the old names of Kong-rey, Toraji, Man-yi, Usagi, Yagi, Ewiniar, Jebi, Krathon and Trami respectively.
The new names were endorsed at the 58th session of the Typhoon Committee, which is under the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, and the World Meteorological Organization.
The meanings of the nine new names and the contributing countries/regions are as follows:
Name |
Meaning |
Contributing country/region |
Koki |
The name of a large tree with a hard flesh that is suitable for daily use in Cambodia |
Cambodia |
Gaeguri |
A frog |
Democratic People's Republic of Korea |
Dim-sum |
A famous food in Hong Kong cuisine |
Hong Kong, China |
Hebi |
Serpens; snake |
Japan |
Tomo |
Puppis; stern |
Japan |
Tirou |
A formal and respectful way of greeting in Chuukese culture |
Micronesia |
Narae |
The wing of a bird or an insect |
Republic of Korea |
Burapha |
East |
Thailand |
Hoaban |
It is a species of flowering plant in the Fabaceae family, a typical flower of the Northwest mountains of Vietnam, it has a pleasant scent and blooms every spring |
Vietnam |
According to convention, the Typhoon Committee will consider retiring the name of a tropical cyclone which has caused serious casualties and economic losses. Typhoon Ewiniar hit the Philippines in late May 2024, causing six deaths and eight injuries. More than 150 000 people were affected and economic losses exceeded PHP1.04 billion. In early September 2024, Super Typhoon Yagi left 21 deaths, 26 missing and 22 injuries in the Philippines during its passage. More than three million people were affected and economic losses exceeded PHP2.6 billion. Super Typhoon Krathon brought torrential rain to the northern part of the Philippines in late September to early October 2024, resulting in five deaths, one missing and 12 injuries. Over 380 000 people were affected and economic losses exceeded PHP1.5 billion. Typhoon Trami and Super Typhoon Kong-rey in late October 2024 caused a total of 159 deaths, 22 missing and 132 injuries in the Philippines. More than 9.6 million people were affected and economic losses exceeded PHP18.4 billion. Typhoon Toraji, Super Typhoon Usagi and Super Typhoon Man-yi hit the Philippines successively in mid-November 2024, causing a total of 14 deaths, two missing, 15 injuries with more than 4.3 million people affected. Economic losses exceeded PHP3.7 billion. Additionally, "Jebi" has been retired due to an inappropriate meaning in other languages.
The latest list of tropical cyclone names and their corresponding meanings are available on the Hong Kong Observatory webpage for Tropical Cyclone Names in the western North Pacific and the South China Sea with effect from 2026.
Source: AI-found images
