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The Office of the Telecommunications Authority (OFTA) and the Police today (April 19) conducted a joint operation at Sham Shui Po against radio dealers who were suspected of illegally selling mobile phone jammers. In the operation, a total of 33 pieces of radio apparatus, which were suspected to be mobile phone jammers, were seized and six persons were taken to the police station to assist in further investigation.
"Under section 32B(a) of the Telecommunications Ordinance (TO), a licensed radio dealer authorised to deal in radio transmitters in the course of trade or business shall sell or offer to sell or deliver a radio transmitter only to a person who is licensed (or issued with a permit, or exempt from licensing) to possess or use that transmitter. Since a mobile phone jammer is a radio transmitter and the use of mobile phone jammers is not licensable in Hong Kong, it is an offence for licensed radio dealers to sell mobile phone jammers to any person in Hong Kong. The offender is liable on conviction to a fine of $50,000 and to imprisonment for two years," a spokesman for the OFTA said.
It is also an offence under section 8(1) of the TO for any person in Hong Kong to possess or use a radio transmitter without a valid licence. The offender is liable on summary conviction to a fine of $50,000 and to imprisonment for two years. A mobile phone jammer is a radio transmitter and the OFTA would like to make it clear that it will not issue licence for any person to possess or use such apparatus in Hong Kong.
"We will continue to monitor the situation closely and take prompt enforcement action against any illegal activity," emphasised the spokesman.
Ends/Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Issued at HKT 19:18
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