Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Rita Lau has urged telecommunications service providers to clearly state the fees for their services, so consumers will not be misled into believing some are free.

Mrs Lau told reporters today it is unacceptable for some telecom firms to send out an unreasonable number of short messages or use dishonest means to make mobile phone users pay for certain services.

Such situations must be quickly curbed, Mrs Lau said, adding telecom firms have the responsibility to list service charges clearly and conspicuously, and to provide simple and clear methods for consumers to stop services they do not want.

Consumers should also read carefully the terms and conditions of the telecom services before deciding whether to use them, she added.

After a meeting with telecom service providers this afternoon, Director-General of Telecommunications Marion Lai said the firms have been asked to increase the transparency of their charged items and the fee levels.

Besides clearly stating the ways of service cancellation or termination, these firms must also not hinder other services subscribed by consumers even when they are handling fee disputes with those clients.

Mrs Lai said the trade has agreed a code of practice will be drafted as soon as possible to implement these improvement measures.