In a surprising move, Hanoi authorities recently decided to keep the capital’s collection of wartime loudspeakers.
As VnExpress reports, the Hanoi People’s Committee believes that despite public complaints, the speakers, or loa phường, are still helpful in some aspects, such as informing local residents of natural disasters and delivering messages from the government.
The move is rather surprising as most Hanoians deem these wartime relics a nuisance and even voted to completely get rid of them. Nonetheless, local officials also unveiled plans to revamp the communication system to reduce its impact on the community.
Specifically, the project will keep the amount of loudspeakers in populous urban areas to a minimum – from five to ten in each precinct. In remote wards and suburban communes, however, the number will remain the same. At the same time, changes will be made to the schedule and length of broadcasts played on the speakers.
Moreover, the news outlet also reports that Hanoi authorities will move the loudspeakers away from schools, hospitals, diplomatic agencies, senior citizen centers, expatriate residences and high-rise buildings. The Hanoi Department of Information and Communications has been tasked with the loudspeaker improvement project.
In January, capital authorities announced a plan to get rid of the loa phường after years of complaints from local residents. A subsequent survey put up by the government to gather public opinion saw 90% of replies saying that “it’s no longer necessary to retain” the loudspeakers.
[Photo via Thoi Bao]
