All SIM cards issued by telecommunications service providers in Hong Kong for person-to-person communications in Hong Kong will need to complete real-name registration.

Upon the full implementation of real-name registration for SIM cards, all SIM cards (including SSP and PPS cards) require real-name registration before activation.

SSP that took effect before 1 March 2022 is not required to re-register unless the user concerned changes to another service provider or subscribes to a new SIM card.

SSP subscribed on or after 1 March 2022 onwards requires real-name registration before activation.

Hong Kong residents must use original HKID cards for real-name registration.

If an individual user does not have a HKID card, he/she can use other valid identification document (such as valid travel document or passport*) as specified in the Telecommunications (Registration of SIM Cards) Regulation for completing real-name registration.

* HKSAR passport and British National (Overseas) (BN(O)) passport will not be recognised as a valid proof of identity for completing real-name registration.

Telecommunications service providers will issue an SMS message to PPS card users for notifying the successful completion of real-name registration. If you are unable to receive any SMS notification, please contact your telecommunications service providers direct for further inquiries.

Under the Real-name Registration Programme, the personal information of SIM card users are kept and stored by respective telecommunications service providers. If a registered PPS card is no longer in use, the user may make a request to the respective telecommunications service provider for deregistration of the PPS card. For details on the checking of the number of registered PPS card or deregistration arrangement, please contact your telecommunications service provider direct for enquiry.

Under the Real-name Registration Programme, the personal information of SIM card users are kept and stored by their respective telecommunications service providers.

For enquiry about the number of PPS cards registered with their identities, members of the public can contact corresponding telecommunications services providers direct.

Telecommunications service providers are required to arrange sample checks on the registered information from time to time.

When you receive the SMS from your telecommunications service provider using the Registered SMS Sender ID "#SIMREG", you must provide your own identity document to verify the registered information of the PPS card by following the instructions provided in the SMS. Please be reminded that telecommunications service provider will never ask you to transfer money for completing or verifying the registration.

If you are unable to provide relevant information to confirm your registration or do not respond to the verification request before the stipulated deadline, your PPS card will be deregistered and cannot be used afterwards, so as to protect your interest and avoid the PPS card being used by unknown third party. If you have any questions regarding the verification request, please contact your telecommunications service provider direct.

Please contact your telecommunications service provider for further inquiries.

NO, users are not required to pay to complete real-name registration.

Users should complete real-name registration of their PPS cards under their own identity documents. Users must not purchase PPS cards that have allegedly completed real-name registration from unknown sources in the market to protect their own interests

The provision of false information and/or false document under the registration programme could constitute a criminal offence. Depending on the nature of the act and the availability of evidence, the applicable offences may include obtaining services by deception under section 18A of the Theft Ordinance (Cap. 210) and/or using false instrument under section 73 of the Crimes Ordinance (Cap. 200). The offence under section 18A of the Theft Ordinance has a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment and the offence under section 73 of the Crimes Ordinance has a maximum penalty of 14 years’ imprisonment. In addition, depending on the nature of the case and the availability of evidence, a person who knowingly provides a SIM card registered under his/her name to another party to facilitate the commission of an offence may be liable for, among others, aiding and abetting the commission of the relevant offence.

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.

Members of the public can use "iAM Smart" for instant completion of the real-name registration procedures, making it easier to activate their PPS cards.

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.

The processing time varies by telecommunications service providers. Members of the public may contact their respective telecommunications service providers direct for enquiries about the time required by them for manual verification on the submitted registration information.

If you encounter problems when using "iAM Smart" in completing real-name registration, please contact your telecommunications service provider direct.

In addition, frequently asked questions on "iAM Smart" are available on the website of the Digital Policy Office ("DPO"). If you have further enquiries on "iAM Smart", you may also contact DPO.

No. Using "iAM Smart" to complete real-name registration is free.

No. Considering that the telecommunications service providers are required to verify the identity of corporate user with business registration certificates or branch registration certificates to ensure that the number of PPS cards registered under its name does not exceed the maximum registration quota, the Telecommunications (Registration of SIM Cards) Regulation stipulates that organisations not holding valid business registration certificate or branch registration certificate (“relevant organisation”) can only register SIM service plans.

The relevant organisation should check with telecommunications service providers for details and arrangements when choosing SIM service plan. It may also consider registering PPS cards and/or SIM service plans through its employees / members as individual users.

Under the Real-name Registration Programme, the personal information of users are collected and kept by respective telecommunications service providers. At the request of law enforcement officers, telecommunications service providers shall provide registration records of SIM cards to the law enforcement officers in accordance with relevant regulations and procedures.

Since the personal information in respect of an individual named as the responsible person of a corporate user for completing real-name registration of SIM card is not shown on the business registration certificate, telecommunications service provider shall register the personal information of an individual aged 18 or above who named as the responsible person of the corporate user pursuant to the Telecommunications (Registration of SIM Cards) Regulation for completing real-name registration of the relevant SIM card.