Communications, the Media and Information Technology | 361
Protection of Consumers
The booming mobile telecommunications market, growing number of smart phone users and rapid technological developments have generated a number of consumer issues, such as billing and contractual disputes which OFTA is working closely with the industry to solve. In 2010, OFTA and the industry initiated a number of self-regulatory regimes or measures to tackle issues of chargeable mobile content services, mobile bill shock, performance of mobile broadband services and communications service contracts.
International Activities
Hong Kong continues to be an active player in international telecommunications forums. In addition to being a member of the Mainland delegation to conferences and meetings organised by the International Telecommunication Union, Hong Kong participates as an independent member at meetings of the Asia-Pacific Telecommunity (APT) and the Telecommunications and Information Working Group of the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC).
In December 2010, Hong Kong hosted the 4th Meeting of the APT Conference Preparatory Group for the World Radio Communication Conference 2012. About 350 policymakers, heads of regulatory authorities, experts and industry players from around the world attended the forum and shared their views on important radio-communications issues.
Broadcasting
Hong Kong is a forerunner in the adoption of advanced broadcasting and telecommunications technologies. The Government's broadcasting policy objectives are to widen programme choice and diversity through competition, to facilitate the introduction of new, innovative broadcasting services and to enhance Hong Kong's position as a regional broadcasting hub.
In order to achieve these objectives, Hong Kong has adopted a facilitating and pro-competition approach to promoting the application of various innovative broadcasting technologies, and has provided a liberalised and light-handed regulatory environment for new broadcasting services to flourish. This allows Hong Kong to enter a new era of broadcasting, with broadened programming choice and innovative services available to the viewing and listening public. Hong Kong now has some 700 satellite and pay television channels available in digital format, and is the world leader in deploying Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) technology, with some one million subscribers. There are also 18 licensed satellite television broadcasters providing about 200 channels for the Asia-Pacific region. The two terrestrial television broadcasters launched digital broadcasting officially in December 2007. By the end of 2010, the number of free-to-air television channels had increased substantially (4 analogue and 12 digital free TV channels). Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK), a government department, produces programmes of public interest for broadcast on free TV channels. There are three radio stations, including two