The Office of the Communications Authority (OFCA) announced today (27 September 2024) the latest enhanced arrangement of the Real-name Registration Programme for SIM Cards (Real-name Registration Programme). Starting from 1 October, Hong Kong identity card (HKID) holders completing real-name registration for pre-paid cards (PPS cards) via telecommunications service providers’ online registration platforms can by default register and verify their identities through the mobile application “iAM Smart” so that they can instantly complete the registration. The enhancement aims to ensure the effective implementation of the Real-name Registration Programme and enable members of the public to activate their PPS cards more conveniently.
According to the Telecommunications (Registration of SIM Cards) Regulation (the Regulation), Hong Kong residents must use HKID cards for real-name registration. If members of the public choose not to use "iAM Smart" for real-name registration for PPS cards, telecommunications service providers will manually verify the registration information submitted upon receipt of the relevant registration requests, and the relevant PPS cards will be activated after completing the real-name registration procedures. OFCA has already requested telecommunications service providers to deploy additional resources and manpower to process such verification work. Users in need may contact their respective telecommunications service providers for details.
"To assist the enforcement agencies in combating fraudsters exploiting false information for registrations, OFCA has been maintaining close contact with telecommunications service providers and the Police, and has constantly requested telecommunications service providers to enhance their registration platforms, taking into account the operational experience since the full implementation of the Real-name Registration Programme in February last year. The digital identity authentication function of "iAM Smart” can help verify the identities of those who complete real-name registration with their HKID cards, thereby further ensuring the effective implementation of the Real-name Registration Programme. We urge members of the public to use "iAM Smart” for instant completion of the real-name registration procedures, making it easier to activate their PPS cards,” a spokesman for OFCA said.
To help the public understand more about the relevant enhancement, OFCA and the Digital Policy Office (DPO) jointly conducted publicity and education activities in Mong Kok today, and arranged "iAM Smart" mobile registration teams to assist members of the public in registering for "iAM Smart" on-site. Staff members of OFCA also distributed leaflets and souvenirs to remind members of the public not to purchase or resell PPS cards that have allegedly completed real-name registration.
In addition, OFCA has requested telecommunications service providers to step up their inspection of user information of registered PPS cards and refer suspicious cases to the Police for follow-up to assist in combating phone deception. As of end August this year, telecommunications service providers had rejected around 3 million registration requests as clients failed to provide information that meets the registration requirements, and had deregistered around 2.64 million non-compliant PPS cards. Earlier, based on reports from telecommunications service providers, the Police successfully arrested suspects for using false identity information to register a large number of PPS cards, including the telephone deception case involving a transnational crime syndicate as announced last month.
"To avoid contravening the relevant laws, members of the public must complete real-name registration with their own original identity document, and traders should not assist any persons in using the identity document of a third party in completing the registration. OFCA will continue to carry out a series of monitoring actions to ensure that telecommunications service providers comply with the requirements of the Regulation and the relevant guidelines," the spokesman added.
Details of the Real-name Registration Programme are available at OFCA's thematic website (www.ofca.gov.hk/simreg/en). For further information about the "iAM Smart" services, please visit the DPO's "iAM Smart" thematic website (www.iamsmart.gov.hk/en/).
Office of the Communications Authority
27 September 2024
