LET US KNOW: What to do with our 2,900 payphone locations?

LET US KNOW: What to do with our 2,900 payphone locations?

I always thought it curious why we still have payphones along our streets, in ferry terminals and other public locations. They appear memories of a time long gone by. I can’t recall seeing anyone use one recently. Their forlorn presence makes you wonder why we don’t get rid of them. Then one day a month ago, I changed my mind.

In the morning a team from a local telecommunications provider came to explore ideas with the “Drink Without Waste”, a working group I chair, for reverse vending machines where you can return your used plastic bottles and cartons for a reward. As we are struggling finding locations for these ‘RVMs’ our enthusiasm grew when we realised that they are the universal service  provider under the Telecommunications Ordinance with some 2,900 pay phones throughout the city. 

Later that same day, the Office of the Communications Authority sought agreement of the Southern District Council on removal of payphone kiosks which are rarely used from our streets – some had revenue of less than $1 per day! The authority explained the benefits: Reduction of cost for government, and that it would address complaints from drivers over the obstruction of sightlines and from pedestrians that the kiosks take up space in already narrow pedestrian pathways. 

From the conversation that morning I had realised though that the 1,600 outdoor and 1,300 indoor payphones are important assets we should not lose: There is permission from the land and property owners to be where they are; there is a foundation strong enough to hold up a booth in typhoon conditions; there is power supply; and there is a fixed line communications connection. District councillors learn the hard way how difficult it is to get any of these assets in a public space. Bus shelters, public seating or adding pedestrian crossings take years to approve, fund and build.

Luckily, I had a chance to speak first that afternoon and explained the real assets of each payphone location, and argued that rather than removing them that we first need a study of how we can make better use of these locations. All councillors supported the call for further study.

We were the 15th council out of the 18 to be asked. Most councils had focused on decluttering streets and approved removal of phones except a few for emergency. As the Office of the Communications Authority focused on reducing the $18 million it pays PCCW HKT it failed to enthuse the councils with plans for a smart city and how each payphone is an opportunity we should think about creatively. What can we do with each beyond making an emergency call? Can they be turned into a recycling point for used packaging? Can they become an information centre? A payment point? A charging point?

I don’t have the answers ready. So let me ask you. Please send me your ideas on how to make better use of a square meter of public space with an underground foundation, electricity and a broadband connection. Feel free to send them to [email protected]

(Article published in Southside Magazine - February 2019 issue)

話比我哋知：如何處理 2,900 個電話亭？

一直以來，我都很好奇為何電話亭依然屹立於不同公眾地方，如路邊及天星小輪碼頭等，更無法憶起上次看見有人使用它是甚麼時候。它們孤單的身影，不禁令人反思應否將其移除。然後，於上月的某一天，我徹底改變了看法。

當天早上，有本地電訊服務供應商的團隊前來，就有關現金回贈飲品包裝回收站的議題，與我主持的「一次性飲品包裝工作小組」交流意見。正當我們為尋找回收站地點大感惆悵時，頃刻發現，對方是《電訊條例》下「全面服務責任」（universal service obligation）的供應商，負責管理全港 2,900 個電話亭。

同日，通訊事務管理局到南區區議會，就移除低使用量的電話亭諮詢我們意見（其中更有一些每日的收入低於一元）。當局解釋移除電話亭可減省開支，亦有助解決駕駛者長久以來視野受阻的投訴，對行人來說，這同時能為狹窄的街路騰出空間。

經過當日的討論，我才意會到這 1,600 個室外電話亭及 1,300 個室內電話亭，絕對是得來不易的財產 — 這些電話亭選址獲相關土地或物業持有人授權；根基穩固，足以應付颱風狀況；亦有電力及固網服務供應。隨便一個有蓋巴士站、座椅及行人過路處，審批加興建動輒花費數年時間，區議員當然深諳「成功爭取」這些設施的困難所在。我有幸首先發言解釋這些電話亭的真正價值所在，並提出與其將它們移除，倒不如研究可如何善用這些地點。各議員均同意就此進行研究。

我們是 18 區中第 15 個被諮詢的區議會，其他區議會着眼清理街道，大多贊成移除，只保留少數以備不時之需；通訊管理局則只着眼於節省每年向 PCCW/HKT 支付的 1,800 萬，卻未能提出這些電話亭能如何為智慧城市計劃作出貢獻，亦沒有一些創新方案善用它們。我們又可避免這些電話亭淪為「不時之需」？或許作為飲品包裝回收站，或許作為諮詢中心，又或是繳費站、充電站等，當下我亦未有確實想法。大家又意下如何？如果你對利用這有根基有電有網絡的一平方米空間有任何想法，歡迎立即電郵至 [email protected]

(立場新聞2019年2月1日連結：https://thestandnews.com/society/電話亭-2-0-如何處理-2-900-個電話亭)