Some 94 per cent of hiking tracks in country parks are now covered by at least one mobile phone network operator, and the government has drawn up a digital map on reception as part of a drive to boost safety.
Speaking at the launch yesterday of a base station on Cloudy Hill, Tai Po, Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology Joseph Wong Wing-ping said five base stations had been erected in the mountains this year to improve coverage.
The six local operators have been urged to build more base stations in country parks so that stricken hikers can call for help. Last month, a man drowned in a stream at Shing Mun Country Park as his son searched for a mobile signal.
Mr Wong said network operators were being charged a nominal rent of HK$1 a year for each of the five new base stations - at Shek Uk Shan in Sai Kung, Woodside in Tai Tam Country Park, Robin's Nest near Shataukok, Tsuen Kam Au near Tai Mo Shan, and Cloudy Hill.
'It means hikers can dial 112 for assistance in case of emergency and get connected to the 999 hotline centre through one of the mobile networks free of charge, even though they may not be able to pick up the signal of their own mobile operators.'
However, there is no mobile phone coverage in southwestern Lantau; central Tai Lam Country Park; Luk Wu, Tai Long, Long Ke and Ham Tin in Sai Kung East Country Park; and Tung Ping Chau.