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The number of hotspots under Hong Kong's common Wi-Fi brand, Wi-Fi.HK, has risen to over 12 000 across the 18 districts in the territory, providing convenient and free public Wi-Fi services to the public and visitors.
Launched last August, Wi-Fi.HK is a collaborative scheme of the Government and the industry to promote public Wi-Fi services in Hong Kong.
A spokesman for the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer said today (February 12), "Recently, a total of 12 universities and tertiary institutions, members of the Joint Universities Computer Centre, namely the University of Hong Kong, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Baptist University, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Lingnan University, the Hong Kong Institute of Education, the Open University of Hong Kong, the Vocational Training Council, Tung Wah College and Hang Seng Management College, have joined the scheme. Ngong Ping 360 Limited is also partnering with Wi-Fi.HK to offer free Wi-Fi services at its cable car terminals and Ngong Ping Village."
He added, "Together with additional hotspots provided by existing participating organisations, including the Wi-Fi hotspots under the Government Wi-Fi Programme (GovWiFi), the number of Wi-Fi.HK hotspots has been increased from the original 5 000 at the launch of the scheme to the current figure of over 12 000."
At present, Wi-Fi.HK hotspots can be found in various parts of Hong Kong, covering the Hong Kong International Airport, major tourist attractions, public phone booths, shopping centres, restaurants, cafˆms, convenience stores, college campuses, clinics, Cyberport, the Hong Kong Science Park and GovWiFi premises.
The existing participating organisations include Hong Kong Telecommunications (HKT) Limited, Hong Kong Broadband Network Limited, Hutchison Global Communications Limited, Y5ZONE Limited, Airport Authority Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation and Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited.
Members of the public and visitors can enjoy completely free or at least 30 minutes' free public Wi-Fi services by simply connecting to the Wi-Fi.HK network with their smartphones or mobile devices at venues with the Wi-Fi.HK signage. No prior registration is required.
The spokesman expressed gratitude to the Wi-Fi operators as well as public and private organisations for their enthusiastic support and participation in the Wi-Fi.HK scheme.
He noted that the Government will continue to promote and invite more public and private organisations to join the scheme with a view to providing more free Wi-Fi hotspots for the public and visitors and further advancing Hong Kong's position as a highly connected city.
"Through partnership with Wi-Fi operators in a pilot project, five public hospitals under the Hospital Authority (Caritas Medical Centre, Hong Kong Eye Hospital, Kwong Wah Hospital, Queen Elizabeth Hospital and Yan Chai Hospital) are now providing one-hour free public Wi-Fi services at public areas such as waiting halls of their Accident and Emergency Departments and specialist out-patient clinics.
"Ocean Park has also accepted our invitation to join the Wi-Fi.HK scheme and will launch free Wi-Fi service in the park area in the third quarter of this year," he said.
For details of the free Wi-Fi hotspots, please download and install the Wi-Fi.HK mobile app or visit the thematic website (www.wi-fi.hk).
Ends/Thursday, February 12, 2015
Issued at HKT 14:30
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