C&WDC Written Question No. 3/2019 – Annex I Revitalisation of public phone booths Reply from the Office of the Communications Authority: Background Information PCCW-HKT Telephone Limited and Hong Kong Telecommunications (HKT) Limited (collectively referred to as “HKT”) is currently the only universal service provider in Hong Kong. Under the universal service obligation (USO) arrangement, HKT is required in accordance with the Telecommunications Ordinance (Cap. 106) to ensure that basic telephone service, including public payphone service, is reasonably available to all persons within the areas of Hong Kong. The cost incurred by HKT in meeting the USO is funded by the telecommunications industry according to the universal service contribution (USC) scheme. With the popularity of mobile phones, the demand for public payphones has waned over recent years. As such, the Communications Authority (CA) announced in June 2017 to embark on a review of the number of public payphones with a view to reducing to a reasonable level the number of public payphones eligible for the USC, thereby reducing the level of USC borne by the industry and accordingly the pressure for the telecommunications industry to pass on the USC to the subscribers. OFCA has conducted the review of the number of public payphones in accordance with the guiding principles laid down by the CA, namely that: (1) public payphones with an extremely low usage rate, viz. with an average revenue of not more than HK$1 per day, would be the subject of the review; (2) despite extremely low usage, a kiosk payphone located in remote areas with no mobile network coverage and no alternative kiosk payphone in the vicinity would be proposed to be retained. Further, for each in-building payphone location, at least one in-building payphone would be proposed to be retained to meet the need of the public; and (3) relevant stakeholders would be engaged in the review process so that any needs and considerations specific to the districts or locations would be well catered for before a decision to exclude specific public payphones from the USO is made. For the C&W District, the Culture, Leisure and Social Affairs Committee (“CLSAC”) of the C&W DC discussed a paper entitled “Review of the Number of Public Payphones” submitted by OFCA (CLSAC Paper No. 25/2018) with respect to the 90 kiosk payphones in the district at its meeting on 19 April 2018. Having considered and followed up the comments expressed by the DC members and the comment from a member of the public, OFCA decided to exclude 26 kiosk payphones in the C&W District from the USO and informed CLSAC of the decision on 19 July 2018. Responses to Questions (1) and (3) Based on HKT’s record, there were 56 kiosk payphones with an average revenue of not more than HK$1 per day between 2016 and 20171. Please refer to the Annex for the usage rates and locations of individual kiosk payphones in C&W District. Responses to Questions (2) and (4) Based on HKT’s record, HKT conducts routine kiosk payphone inspection every 2 months and kiosk payphone cleaning every 2 to 4 days. If members of the public find that the kiosk payphones are damaged or occupied with sundries, they can report directly to HKT for its follow-up. HKT is not able to provide the number of times of repairs carried out in 2018 for the kiosk payphones in C&W District for the time being. Responses to Question (5) During OFCA’s consultation with the 18 DCs on the review, there were suggestions from DC members to add new functions to the public payphone kiosks (e.g. providing free charging service, web browsing facilities, traffic and tourist information, etc.). HKT has also submitted a proposal to revitalise public payphone kiosks. The Government keeps an open mind on the revitalisation of public payphone kiosks. However, since the suggestions for the new functions involve amendments to the terms of the current block licence for public payphone kiosks granted by the Lands Department, OFCA is following up those suggestions with the relevant policy bureaux and departments. Moreover, OFCA is assisting mobile network operators to use suitable public payphone kiosks to install small base stations to further improve the mobile network coverage and capacity in order to provide better mobile communications services to the public. (Received on 13 June 2019) C&WDC Secretariat June 2019 1 HKT is not able to provide the record of kiosk payphones in C&W District with an average revenue of not more than HK$1 per day between 2017 and 2018 for the time being. Annex List of kiosk payphones in Central and Western district (As of end 2018) Constituency Code Kiosk ID Address of Kiosk Average revenue of not and Name more than HK$1 per day between 2016 and 2017 A01(Chung Wan) 1032△ Queen's Road Central, Outside Shanghai Commercial Bank Tower Yes 1040# Chater Road, Outside St George's Building, Near MTR Central Station Exit F Yes 1042△ Chater Road, Outside St George's Building, Near MTR Central Station Exit F 1045△ Junction of Pedder Street / Queen's Road Central, Outside Central Building 1047△ Murray Road, Outside Hutchison House Yes 1049 Des Voeux Road Central, Outside Landmark Yes 1069# Des Voeux Road Central, Outside Landmark 1056△ Queen's Road Central, Outside Hing Wai Building 1058# Queensway, Outside One Pacific Place Yes 1671△ Queensway, Outside One Pacific Place 1060△ Murray Road, Outside AIA Central Yes 1050△ Chater Road, Outside Statue Square, Near Bus Stop Yes 1062△ Chater Road, Outside Statue Square, Near Court of Final Appeal Yes 1072# Chater Road, Outside Statue Square, Near Court of Final Appeal Yes 1038# Chater Road, Outside Statue Square 1091# Chater Road, Outside Statue Square Yes 1073# Chater Road, Outside Statue Square Yes 1076△ Chater Road, Outside Statue Square Yes 1031△ Chater Road, Outside Statue Square Yes 1063# Chater Road, Outside Statue Square Yes 2321△ Chater Road, Outside Statue Square, Near Prince's Building Yes 2322# Chater Road, Outside Statue Square, Near Prince's Building Yes 2323△# Chater Road, Outside Statue Square, Near Prince's Building Yes 1036△ Des Voeux Road Central, Outside Statue Square, Near Prince's Building Yes 1070# Des Voeux Road Central, Outside Statue Square, Near Prince's Building Yes 1071△ Des Voeux Road Central, Outside Statue Square, Near Prince's Building 2319# Des Voeux Road Central, Outside Statue Square, Near Prince's Building Yes 2320△ Des Voeux Road Central, Outside Statue Square, Near Prince's Building 1086△ Des Voeux Road Central, Outside Statue Square, Near Court of Final Appeal Yes 1082△ Outside St John's Building Peak Tram Station, Near Garden Road 1083△ Supreme Court Road, Outside Queensway Government Offices Yes 1087△ Queensway, Outside High Court Yes 1088△ Ice House Street, Outside Mandarin Oriental Yes 1089△ Junction of Lower Albert Road / Garden Road, Outside Central Government Offices East Wing 1090# Chater Garden, Near Court of Final Appeal Yes 1195△# Queensway, Outside MTR Admiralty Station Exit C1 Yes 1199△ Queensway, Outside MTR Admiralty Station Exit C1 1209 Queensway, Outside MTR Admiralty Station Exit C1 1824△ Queensway, Outside MTR Admiralty Station Exit C1 1197 Drake Street, Queensway Plaza Bus Terminus, Near Far East Finance Centre Yes 1203 Drake Street, Outside MTR Admiralty Station Exit C2 1204△ Queensway Outside MTR Admiralty Station Exit C1 1331# Connaught Road Central, Outside City Hall High Block Yes 1365# Queen's Road Central, Outside New World Tower Yes 1366 Queen's Road Central, Outside New World Tower Yes 1376△ Junction of Des Voeux Road Central / Wing Lok Street, Outside Golden Centre 1403 Des Voeux Road Central, Outside MTR Central Station Exit C 1413# Ice House Street, Outside Alexandra House Yes 1443# Kennedy Road, Outside Zetland Hall Yes 1628 Rumsey Street, Outside Infinitus Plaza 1629△ Rumsey Street, Outside Infinitus Plaza 1716 Garden Road, Outside Champion Tower Yes Annex List of kiosk payphones in Central and Western district (As of end 2018) Constituency Code Kiosk ID Address of Kiosk Average revenue of not and Name more than HK$1 per day between 2016 and 2017 1727 Junction of Connaught Road Central / Pottinger Street, Outside Wing On House 1914 Connaught Road Central, Outside Shun Tak Centre 1915△ Connaught Road Central, Outside Shun Tak Centre 2386# Junction of Connaught Road Central / Pedder Street, Outside Chater House Yes 2387# Junction of Connaught Road Central / Pedder Street, Outside Chater House Yes 2388 Junction of Connaught Road Central / Pedder Street, Outside World Wide House 2389 Junction of Connaught Road Central / Pedder Street, Outside World Wide House 2399△ Man Kwong Street, Outside Central Ferry Pier No. 5 2400△ Man Kwong Street, Outside Central Ferry Pier No. 7 Sub-Total : 61 35 A02(Mid-Levels East) 1052△ Caine Road, Outside Long Mansion 1092# Albany Road, Outside Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens Food Kiosk and Office Yes 1488△ Caine Road, Outside Ho Shing Lau, Near Central to Mid-Levels Escalators Yes 2338 Caine Road, Outside Albron Court Yes Sub-Total : 4 3 A03(Castle Road) 1557△ Robinson Road, Outside Seymour Place Yes 1584△ Robinson Road, Outside Vantage Park Block 2, Near Footbridge Yes 2337 Conduit Road, Outside Elegant Garden Yes Sub-Total : 3 3 A04(Peak) 1444 May Road, Near Chatham Path / Peak Tram May Road Station Yes 1763△ Mount Kellett Road, Outside Mountain Lodge Yes 1771# Mount Kellett Road, Outside Vivian Court Yes 1779# Junction of Mansfield Road / Guildford Road, Outside Mansfield Road Quarters Yes 1780 Junction of Mansfield Road / Guildford Road, Outside