HK to increase mobile phone coverage in parks
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2006-09-03 17:04
HONG KONG -- The Hong Kong government will continue to enlarge mobile phone
coverage in country parks to enable hikers to seek assistance during emergency,
said Joseph Wong, secretary for commerce, industry and technology, on Sunday.
Joseph Wong said the government has allowed mobile phone network
operators to use various government hilltop sites for building base stations,
charging a minimum rent of 1 HK dollar per year, and waiving the utilization fee
for the additional radio spectrum specially allocated for use at these base
stations.
The government's initiatives received positive respond from
operators and the total number of base stations serving the popular hiking
trails, such as the Maclehose Trail, Wilson Trail, Lantau Trail and Hong Kong
Trail, has now increased to 12.
Hong Kong has about 23 country parks
with an area of 41,000 hectares. Their wild and natural beauty is appealing to
many hikers and visitors during holiday. However, the "blind spots" of mobile
phone coverage may cause trouble when emergency happens.
Wong said the
government is holding further discussions with the mobile phone operators for
additional base stations, aiming at increasing mobile phone coverage to 94
percent of the popular hiking trails in the territory.
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