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The Anti-Spamming Task Force held its third meeting today (May 25) 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, 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 2010, more than 2.06 million numbers had been registered in the three do-not-call registers namely for fax, short messages and pre-recorded messages.
Members noted that since the full implementation of the UEMO up to late March 2010, the Office of the Telecommunications Authority (OFTA), as the enforcement agency of the ordinance, had issued 194 warning letters and one enforcement notice. The overall number of reports of suspected contravention of the ordinance had dropped.
Members were briefed on the progress of the development of a voluntary industry Code of Practice (CoP) and the introduction of a self-regulation scheme for person-to-person telemarketing calls. They noted that the OFTA, in consultation with the industry, had prepared a benchmark CoP setting requirements on displaying calling number, maintaining an in-house do-not-call list and establishing a system to respond effectively to unsubscribe requests. Three companies/industry associations had implemented the voluntary code so far while several others had indicated their intention to implement the code.
The meeting also discussed the latest situation of email spamming in Hong Kong and overseas economies, reviewed the anti-spamming law enforcement in other advanced economies, and examined the international collaboration in combating cross-border spam emails. Members also exchanged views on the non-legislative measures to tackle unsolicited electronic messages.
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 Francis Fong, 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 Ma, representative from Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce
- Dr Edward Lam, President, 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 Samson Tam, member of the Legislative Council (IT functional constituency)
- Dr Xu Yan, Associate Professor, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Ends/Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Issued at HKT 18:17
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