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The following is a question by the Hon Fred Li and a reply by the Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology, Mr Henry Tang, in the Legislative Council today (May 14): (Translation)
Question:
The Office of the Telecommunications Authority (OFTA) launched a voluntary labelling scheme for hand-held mobile phones on January 1, this year, under which suppliers and manufacturers are permitted to affix a prescribed label to the mobile phones which have been certified by OFTA as complying with the radio-frequency radiation safety standard to differentiate them from others. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council of:
(a) the countries or territories which have adopted similar labelling schemes; the details of such schemes and whether they are implemented on a voluntary basis;
(b) among the mobile phones being marketed in Hong Kong, the number of models affixed with the above-mentioned label, and the total market share of such models; and
(c) OFTA's measures to encourage more mobile phone suppliers or manufacturers to participate in the above-mentioned scheme, and whether it will consider making the scheme compulsory?
Reply:
Madam President:
(a) To ensure that mobile phones being marketed in Hong Kong meet the international standards on radiation safety, the Office of the Telecommunications Authority (OFTA), after discussions with the industry and the Consumer Council, implemented a voluntary labelling scheme from April 1, 2003. This would facilitate consumers' choice on mobile phones. This scheme was set up on the basis of a mandatory requirement on the technical specification in terms of Specific Absorption Rate specified by the Telecommunications Authority (TA). Specific Absorption Rate measures the amount of radiation energy actually absorbed in a human body. The TA adopted such standards on radiation safety with reference to international standards and in consultation with the Director of Health.
Under the scheme, mobile phone manufacturers or dealers may apply to the OFTA for type approval of their mobile phones before marketing. Authorised labels can be affixed to the handsets, or displayed on the packing materials or user manuals of mobile phones which have been type-approved by the OFTA as indication of compliance with the TA's specifications. Such labels facilitate consumers in making their choices.
We understand that some places like the United States, EU, Japan and Australia adopt a stricter mandatory labelling scheme i.e. before the launch of mobile phones in the market, manufacturers and dealers must in advance affix labels on the mobile phones. Considering the increase in burden and operating cost of the industry under a mandatory labelling scheme, in particular the mobile phone dealers which are small and medium-sized enterprises, and given that consumer interests are already safeguarded by the mandatory requirement of compliance with the technical specifications as I have just explained, we consider it appropriate to adopt this voluntary labelling scheme. We believe that the market will drive the mobile phone manufacturers and dealers to join this scheme in order to attract consumers to their products.
(b) As of May 9, 2003, 55 models of mobile phones from 19 manufacturers have been approved against the technical specifications specified by the TA and may be affixed with authorised labels. The OFTA continues to receive applications for type-approval in order to affix the authorised labels.
As for market share, we do not have information on the market share of individual mobile phone models in Hong Kong.
(c) To encourage more manufacturers and dealers to participate in the voluntary labelling scheme, the OFTA will streamline the type-approval procedures as far as possible. At the same time, it is planning to conduct various publicity programmes, such as distribution of leaflets, posters and shelf-talkers to raise the awareness of the consumers and the industry of the benefits of the scheme. This in turn will encourage participation of manufacturers and dealers in the scheme.
At present, we would not consider changing the labelling scheme to a mandatory one based on my reply in (a). However, the OFTA will closely monitor the implementation of the scheme, and review it as appropriate.
Ends/Wednesday, May 14, 2003
Issued at HKT 15:48
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