A 10-year campaign on behalf of blind people paid off yesterday as a Bank of China cash machine became Hong Kong's first "talking" ATM.
But campaigners still want to know why it took so long when the first such machine started operating in Canada in 1997 and developing countries like the Philippines already have them.
The Bank of China says the new machine, at its branch on Hoi Yuen Road, Kwun Tong, is the first of eight to come into operation this year.
Blind and partially sighted people can plug in headphones to hear options and instructions.
"The need for friendly facilities in banking has been talked about for 10 years," Tony Shing Li-lim, executive director of the Hong Kong Federation for the Blind, said.
"The machines are easy to operate, and solve the problem of dependency ... But we hope these ATMs will quickly replace other ones, especially as many other countries have adopted them long ago."
Shing said his group and other non-government organisations had been lobbying the Monetary Authority and the Hong Kong Association of Banks since 2003, when some branches were replaced by ATMs, depriving the blind of personal services.
Alex Chan Chi-kong, a partially-sighted member of the Hong Kong Blind Union, said the visually impaired accessed banking services chiefly through bank staff.
"I have had my card confiscated when trying to use ATMs before, especially touch-screen sensors, which are hardest to use," he said.
Seven more "talking" ATMs will be installed in Tai Wai, Tuen Mun, Shau Kei Wan, Sham Shui Po, Sheung Wan and Wong Tai Sin.