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SCMP Reporter

HONGKONG is running out of telephone numbers.

  A government-commissioned consultant predicts that in the long run everyone in the territory will want four telephones - totalling 30 million numbers.

  But as there are only 2.5 million usable numbers in the existing seven-number system, the answer may be to simply add an eighth digit.

  A ''2'' would be added to the beginning of existing numbers under the consultant's recommendation.

  The proposed changes, which may happen late next year or early in 1995, are designed to meet demand for telephone services in the next 15 years.

  Assistant Postmaster-General Mr Anthony Wong Sik-kei said yesterday the seven-digit system was nearing capacity and Hongkong would run out of lines by the end of next year.

  Seven-digit numbers were introduced in 1989 to scrap the previous territory codes - ''5'' for Hongkong Island, ''3'' for Kowloon and ''0'' for the New Territories.

  Although there are 9,999,999 permutations of the seven digits, most are considered unusable and many are allocated to pager or special service systems, leaving only 2.5 million.

  An eighth digit would boost the usable numbers to more than 50 million.

  A research associate with Hongkong University's Centre of Asian Studies, Dr John Ure, said an increased capacity would benefit subscribers.

  ''Subscribers don't like the cost and inconvenience of changing telephone numbers. If this change is sufficient to last 15 years, most subscribers will not be too unhappy,'' Dr Ure said.

  The public has until June 21 to submit views on the scheme.

 The consultant has also recommended ''number portability'' - enabling users to keep their numbers when they move office or home or change between network operators.

 Mr Wong said: ''Portability will be convenient for customers since they do not have to print new business cards, saving them a lot of money.''  Hongkong would be the first place in the world to have number portability if the proposal is implemented. It could cost $35 per line for installation.

  The vice-president of the Hongkong Telecommunication User Group, Mr Peter Mahoney, said the proposal on portability was sensible and would benefit customers.

  But Hongkong Telecom was against portability between networks run by different operators.

  ''Our plans include proposals for our customers, when they move house or office, to retain their existing telephone number,'' the company said.

  ''We have no plans to provide portability between networks because it is not clear that customers would be prepared to pay the price for this service.

  ''We believe that it is market forces that ought to determine which services are introduced.

  ''We do not believe that the Government should mandate either Hongkong Telecom or any of our prospective competitors, to make substantial investments to provide a service that customers may be unwilling to pay the price of.'' 



Phone numbers a dwindling resource