The Department of Justice is considering Court of First Instance's judgment, which ordered the interim injunction granted on January 10 restraining Citizens' Radio from unlicensed broadcasting not be continued.

In response to media enquiries today, the department stressed the injunction was applied for out of public interest, noting the Telecommunications Ordinance creates a public right to have the radio spectrum managed in a way that ensures the safety and well-being of the community, as pointed out in the judgment.

The Secretary for Justice is the guardian of that right and the defendants also fully accept an orderly and rational control of the radio spectrum, it said.

While pending the appeal against the Magistrate's ruling on unconstitutionality - which will proceed expeditiously - the department said other relevant offences under the ordinance are valid and enforceable under criminal law. The Office of the Telecommunications Authority will continue to take appropriate enforcement.

The department said it will continue with the contempt proceedings and as stated in today's judgment, if any defendants have acted in contempt of the court's earlier injunction order, they will be held accountable.