ENG-2016 — Page 351

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Media and Communications

communications services. As at end-2016, they were operating 10 satellites. Another new satellite is scheduled to be launched in 2017.

Unsolicited Electronic Messages

The Unsolicited Electronic Messages Ordinance regulates the sending of commercial electronic messages, including fax, pre-recorded phone messages, short messages and emails. Under this ordinance, senders of commercial electronic messages are required to comply with specific sending rules. There are three 'do-not-call' registers (DNCs) for fax, short messages and pre- recorded phone messages respectively. Senders are prohibited from sending commercial electronic messages to DNC-registered numbers without the consent of the registered users. By end-2016, more than 2.8 million numbers were registered in the three DNCs.

In 2016, the CA received about 800 reports of suspected contraventions, issued 26 warning letters to senders and instigated one prosecution for non-compliance with an enforcement notice. The number of reports fell from about 2,100 in 2015 to around 800 in 2016, a testimony to the continuing effectiveness of the regulatory regime.

The government works with other jurisdictions to combat spam and unsolicited emails. The OFCA is a member of the Unsolicited Communications Enforcement Network, formerly known. as the London Action Plan, which combats spam through international cooperation and the sharing of experience and intelligence.

Protection of Consumers

The OFCA works closely with the industry to safeguard consumer interests in using telecommunications services and to resolve any systemic problems that are manifested in consumer complaints. Together, the OFCA and the industry tackle issues concerning chargeable mobile content services, mobile bill shock, contractual disputes, operators' implementation of fair usage policy, billing information and payment collection, and the performance of fixed and mobile broadband services.

The industry offers a voluntary Customer Complaint Settlement Scheme, which receives. funding and administrative support from the OFCA, to help resolve billing disputes in deadlock. between consumers and their telecommunications service providers by means of mediation. In 2016, 85 eligible applications were handled, of which 99 per cent were settled.

International Activities

Hong Kong is an active player in international telecommunications forums, including participating as part of the Mainland's delegations to conferences and meetings organised by the International Telecommunication Union and as a member at meetings held by the Asia- Pacific Telecommunity and the Telecommunications and Information Working Group of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation.

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