Office of the Communications Authority - Information Leaflets (Record No.: 17)

Stay Smart. Look for the CA Label.

Leaflet

Smart Tips for the Smart Tele-Consumer

Choose telecom equipment, such as walkie-talkies and cordless phones with the label prescribed by the Communications Authority (CA) as shown in figure 1a ("the CA label"). Telecommunications equipment available in the market before the establishment of the CA on 1 April 2012 may have been affixed with old prescribed labels (which are still valid) as shown in figure 1b. For details, please refer to the HKCA 3211 "Standardisation Guide for Labelling of Telecommunications Equipment" document available on the website of the Office of the Communications Authority (OFCA).

Certification
Figure 1a: The current prescribed label

Certification TA
Figure 1b: The old prescribed label

Some walkie-talkies in the market are for export use only and are illegal for use locally
Cordless phones not operating within the specified frequency bands are illegal for use in Hong Kong
A list of certified equipment models is available on the OFCA website

Possession or use of equipment not meeting technical specifications:
Maximum penalty: $50,000 fine & Two-year imprisonment

penalty

Do we need a licence?

In Hong Kong, we do not need a licence to use some common radiocommunications equipment. Examples are:

Table One

	Frequency band / Standard / Power
Cordless phones	Operating at one of the following frequency bands: a) 1.7/47 MHz b) 46/49 MHz c) 254/380 MHz d) 864.1 - 868.1 MHz e) 2400 - 2483.5 MHz f) 5150 - 5350 MHz g) 5725 - 5850 MHz or Conforming to the DECT standard
Walkie-talkies	Frequency band: 409 MHz* Effective radiated power: 0.5Watts or less

* FRS walkie-talkies (US standard Family Radio System) operating within frequency bands from 462 to 468 MHz, for example, are for export use only

Technical specifications for cordless phones and walkie-talkies used in Hong Kong

All walkie-talkies and cordless phones approved for use in Hong Kong must meet technical specifications prescribed by the CA in relation to these areas:

Prevention of interference
Connection of cordless phones to public networks

Labelling of Cordless Phones and Walkie-talkies

Certification of telecom equipment exempted from licensing (See Table One) is a voluntary scheme
Equipment suppliers may apply for certification of equipment against the technical specifications prescribed by the CA. If approved, they may choose to affix the CA label on the equipment.
Only certified equipment is allowed to carry the CA label. To be sure what you choose is authorised or meets the specified technical specifications, always look for the CA label.
Other common telecom equipment may carry the CA label, too:
- Mobile phones
- Fax machines

What other facts do we need to know?

Labelling of cordless phones and walkie-talkies is not compulsory
Some cordless phones and walkie-talkies meeting the prescribed technical specifications may not carry the CA label
Cordless phones and walkie-talkies without the CA label may be illegal and may cause interference, for example, to radiocommunications of the police force
If you possess or use equipment not meeting the technical specifications of the CA, you are in breach of law and may be liable to prosecution. The equipment concerned may be confiscated.

Smart Tips for the Smart Tele-consumer

You are always recommended to choose cordless phones and walkie-talkies with the CA label.
Look up the list of certified telecom equipment on the OFCA website.

For more information about the labelling of telecom equipment, contact us at:

Telephone : 2961 6321
Fax : 2838 5004
E-mail : standards@ofca.gov.hk