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The Government and the Hong Kong Internet Service Providers Association (HKISPA) will join hands to implement an Internet content rating system (ICRS) project in Hong Kong to minimise the exposure of young people and children to offensive materials on the Internet.
The project adopts the rating system developed by the British Internet Content Rating Association (ICRA). Under this system, webmasters who wish to take part in the scheme on a voluntary basis will declare their website content via an online questionnaire and obtain a content label from ICRA. Internet users need only to download a free label filtering software to allow or deny access to a particular website based on their own preferences.
Officiating at the project's launching ceremony at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre today (June 10), the Permanent Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology (Information Technology and Broadcasting), Mr Francis Ho, said the project aimed at minimising the exposure of young people and children to offensive materials on the Internet through the joint efforts of the Government, the industry, schools and parents.
He said, "A special feature of the ICRS is that it will not rate the content of individual websites. Webmasters will declare their website content on a voluntary basis, while Internet users will decide by themselves whether to browse a particular website. The system can on the one hand protect young people and children from being exposed to offensive materials, on the other hand it can also ensure that freedom of speech and free flow of information will not be infringed."
Mr Ho stressed that the Government had been very concerned about the impact of pornographic and violent information on young people and children. Apart from stepping up enforcement actions, a variety of educational and promotional activities had been organised, which included Ten Healthy Websites Contest, Cyber Ambassador Award, subsidising scheme to organize public education and publicity activities in relation to the Control of Obscene and Indecent Articles Ordinance, seminars and exhibitions at schools, and the establishment of the Healthy Information Resource Centre.
"We hope these activities can help young people and children to access healthy information and strengthen their immunity against offensive information," he said.
The Chairman of HKISPA, Mr York Mok, said at the ceremony that the ICRS emphasised on the importance of self-regulation of the Internet industry. He urged the industry to take the initiative to make good use of the rating system.
An "Internet Safety Hotline" - 2528 6286 will be set up under the ICRS project. The hotline, managed by the HKISPA, will handle enquiries about the project and complaints on offensive materials on the Internet. Upon receiving public complaints about offensive content of a website, HKISPA will liaise with the relevant Internet service provider to work out a solution. If the content of the website is found to be against the law, HKISPA will refer the complaint to the Police and Television and Entertainment Licensing Authority (TELA) for further investigations.
The hotline operates from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday, and 9am to 1pm on Saturday. Calls received after these hours will be recorded for follow-up actions.
The ICRS project (including the Internet Safety Hotline) is launched with a funding of $1.2 million from TELA, while HKISPA is responsible for the implementation work and manning of the Hotline. The Association is also responsible for the translation and customisation of the declaration questionnaire and filtering software into Chinese for local adoption. The labeling of websites and downloading of the filtering software are free of charge. Please visit HKISPA's website at www.hkispa.org.hk or call the Internet Safety Hotline for details.
End/Tuesday, June 10, 2003
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