Communications, the Media and Information Technology | 349
important announcements. It is also a portal to a wide range of electronic services. of various departments and agencies, including the submission of tax returns, payment of government fees and the purchase of government publications.
Code on Access to Information
As an open and accountable government, all government bureaux and departments are committed to making information available to the public in accordance with the Code on Access to Information. The code specifies the types of government information the public may have access to. Disclosure may be refused on grounds of the confidential and sensitive nature of the information to ensure appropriate protection of such information. The public may complain to the Ombudsman if government bureaux and departments do not respond to requests for information in accordance with the code.
Telecommunications
The Government's telecommunications policy is to facilitate the development of the telecommunications industry and enhance Hong Kong's position as an international telecommunications hub.
The Telecommunications Authority (TA) is appointed by the Chief Executive to perform functions and exercise powers under the Telecommunications Ordinance and the Unsolicited Electronic Messages Ordinance (UEM Ordinance). The Office of the Telecommunications Authority (OFTA) is the executive arm of the TA. It oversees the regulation of the telecommunications industry in Hong Kong, advises the Government on telecommunications matters, and enforces the relevant provisions. set out under the above-mentioned ordinances.
Hong Kong's telecommunications market is fully liberalised and highly competitive. The Telecommunications Ordinance includes sector-specific pro- competition provisions to ensure fair and effective competition in the telecommunications market.
Mobile Communications Services
The local mobile market is highly competitive. There are five mobile operators operating a total of 14 digital systems providing second generation (2G) and third generation (3G) services. By December 2009, there were over 12 million mobile subscribers. This represents a penetration of 173.7 per cent, one of the highest in the world. The number of 3G users also continues to rise. By December 2009, the four 3G operators had acquired a customer base of 3.8 million.
Mobile data services, based on the high-speed packet access (HSPA) technology offering service to mobile customers as fast as 21 Mbps, are available. By December 2009, the local mobile data usage surged to 638 Terabytes (638 389 Gigabytes), or an average of 127.6 Mbytes per 2.5G/3G mobile user. This represents 4.8 times and 19.8 times the mobile data usage over the same period in 2008 and 2007 respectively. Higher-speed mobile data services will be available in the market as