******************************************************
The Anti-Spamming Task Force held its meeting today (April 30) to discuss measures to tackle the problem of unsolicited electronic messages.
During the meeting chaired by the Under Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Gregory So, the members learned that since the full commencement of the Unsolicited Electronic Message Ordinance (UEMO) in December 2007, the operation of the do-not-call registers had been running smoothly. To late March 2009, more than 1.6 million numbers had been registered in the three do-not-call registers, with about 450,000 in do-not-call register for fax, 420,000 in the register for short messages and 790,000 in the register for pre-recorded messages.
Members also noted that since the full implementation of the UEMO up to late March 2009, the Office of the Telecommunications Authority (OFTA), as the enforcement agency of the UEMO, had received about 10,500 reports. A total of 71 warning letters and one enforcement notice were issued. The concerned senders had agreed to undertake rectification measures and no case had been put to court.
During the meeting, the members discussed overseas anti-spamming legislation and enforcement, and the latest situation on email spamming including the techniques deployed by spammers to spread spam emails. They also exchanged views on non-legislative anti-spamming measures in Hong Kong.
"I am pleased that we had a constructive discussion at the meeting. The Government will continue to work closely with the members to tackle the problem of spamming. We will also follow up the views expressed by the members at the meeting," Mr So said.
Set up in 2007, the task force advises the Government on policies and measures to tackle the problem of unsolicited electronic messages. It comprises representatives from the information and communications technology industry, chambers of commerce, telemarketing industry, consumer groups, social services organisations, and individual members from the community.
The non-official members of the Anti-Spamming Task Force are:
- Mr York Mok, Chairman, Hong Kong Internet Service Providers Association
- Mr Daniel Ng, President, Hong Kong Information Technology Federation Ltd.
- Mr Gilbert Chan, President of Internet Service and Content Provider Group, Communications Association of Hong Kong
- Mr Daniel Lai, representative from Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce
- Dr David Kam, Chairman, Hong Kong Small and Medium Enterprises Development Association
- Ms Kay Bayliss, Director, Asia Digital Marketing Association
- Mr K M Yim, Chairperson, Hong Kong Institute of Marketing
- Mr John Chiu, Chairman, Hong Kong Call Centre Association
- Ms Connie Lau, Chief Executive, Consumer Council
- Mr Timothy Ma Kam Wah, representative from Telecommunications Users and Consumers Advisory Committee of the Office of the Telecommunications Authority
- Dr John Fung Yat Chu, Director of Information Technology Resource Centre, Hong Kong Council of Social Service
- Dr the Hon Samson Tam, Member of the Legislative Council (IT Functional Constituency)
- Dr Xu Yan, Associate Professor, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Ends/Thursday, April 30, 2009
Issued at HKT 18:09
NNNN
