Hunan native Zhou Hongtao says he is in trouble now China Unicom has decided to cancel its special long-distance mobile phone package. Mr Zhou bought 10 of the accounts on the second-hand market last year, hoping for a quick windfall. 'I thought I could set up a long-distance call booth on the street and make some money,' he said.

He was so enthusiastic about his business that he even ordered several specially made pay-phones from a friend. 'I charge customers 0.15 yuan per minute. On average I should have been able to make a few thousand yuan each month,' he said.

'I sold all my belongings and borrowed money from friends. My wife did not support my idea so I did not tell her. Now what can I do with these accounts? I will go broke, and I have no idea how to tell my wife.