Hong Kong has scrapped the White Pages phone book.
Following a review, the regulator, Ofta, announced Wednesday that fixed-line operators would no longer be required to produce the print version of the White Pages.
However, operators are still required to offer telephone directory services.
A survey published last year confirmed that few people use the print White Pages and “even fewer regard it as an important service,” Ofta said. But demand for the directory inquiry - or DQ - service “remains substantial.”
Because of concerns from carriers of overuse of the DQ service by some businesses, they will be permitted to charge subscribers who make more than 50 DQ calls in a month.
According to the operators, the charges would apply to less than 0.01% of telephone subscribers.
The city’s four mobile operators – three of which are affiliated with fixed-line players – have established commercial arrangements to provide telephone inquiry services.