Spam stoppers: Director-General of Telecommunications Marion Lai and Assistant Director So Tat-foon unveil details of the Unsolicited Electronic Messages Ordinance.

The Unsolicited Electronic Messages Ordinance will be fully implemented December 22, Director-General of Telecommunications Marion Lai says.

People who want to decline unsolicited commercial electronic messages, also known as spam, can register their phone or fax numbers onto three do-not-call registers.

As there are over 14 million fax and phone numbers in Hong Kong the three registers will be launched in phases to ensure smooth operation.

The first is for fax and will accept registration from December 22. Registration for short messages and pre-recorded phone calls will open January 8 and 25. Protection will start from the 10th working day from the registration date.

Easy registration

Office of the Telecommunications Authority Assistant Director So Tat-foon said registration can be done easily through an automated telephone system. The public can register their fax numbers onto the do-not-call register for fax by calling the registration hotline 183 5002 using the fax machine of the number they want to register.

He said there is no need for people to rush as there is no registration deadline. People can register their numbers onto the do-not-call register for fax at any time from December 22, except 11pm to midnight each day when the database is updated. If the registration hotline is busy they should try again later as repeated dialling will overload the system.

Mrs Lai said with the ordinance's full launch the existing interim measures to tackle unsolicited electronic messages will be withdrawn.

Those who have registered their numbers on the office's existing not-to-call list for rejecting junk faxes will have to register their numbers onto the do-not-call register for fax. People can also make unsubscribe requests direct to individual message senders.

Senders' reminder

Commercial electronic message senders are reminded to:

* provide accurate sender information and unsubscribe facility in a message;

* honour recipients' unsubscribe requests;

* not send messages to any phone or fax numbers listed on a do-not-call register unless consent has been obtained from the recipient;

* not withhold calling line identification information when sending pre-recorded telephone calls and fax messages; and,

* not use misleading subject headings when sending email messages.

The Telecommunications Authority will issue enforcement notices to senders who have contravened these rules. Failure to comply with enforcement notices warrants a $100,000-fine on first conviction, and up to $500,000 on subsequent conviction.

More details on the Unsolicited Electronic Messages Ordinance can be found here. Enquiries can be made on 2180 6868, which will run 8am to 10pm daily from December 22.