Participation in International and Regional Conferences

OFCA participates actively in the activities of, and maintains close contact with, a number of international and regional organisations, either as an independent member of those organisations or as part of the Chinese delegation.

In 2014/15, we attended a total of 25 conferences/meetings held by regional and international organisations, including the ITU, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (“APEC”), Asia-Pacific Telecommunity (“APT”) and the International Institute of Communications (“IIC”). The more significant events of the year were the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference, the ITU Global Symposium for Regulators, the IIC International Regulators Forum, the APEC Telecommunications Ministerial Meeting and the APT Asia-Pacific ICT Ministerial Meeting. We will continue to participate in the activities of the ITU, the APEC Telecommunications and Information Working Group and the APT with the aim of improving the telecommunications and information infrastructure in the Asia-Pacific region.

Exchanges with Authorities of the Mainland of China and Overseas Administrations

In 2014/15, we received three overseas delegations and exchanged views and experiences with them on various issues relating to communications services. The delegations were from the Federal Office of Communications of Switzerland, the Office of Communications of the United Kingdom and the Venezuelan TV station TeleSUR. 

During the year, we attended a joint meeting in Shenzhen with the Director-Generals of Communications Administration of the Central and Southern Mainland Regions and an annual bilateral meeting in Singapore with the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore.

Media and Community Relations

We proactively keep the public and the media informed of our work. In 2014/15, we issued 25 press releases on the CA’s major decisions in relation to broadcasting and telecommunications regulatory issues and OFCA’s major initiatives, operations or events. The speeches and presentations made by the Director-General of Communications at public events and industry conferences have been published on our website. These measures help disseminate our messages to both the industry and the public, and enable them to gain a better understanding of our work.

Public Education and Communications

In 2014/15, we gave eight talks concerning broadcasting services in Hong Kong to students of four primary schools, one secondary school and one university, and three talks to participants of the Community Involvement Broadcasting Service (“CIBS”). The primary and secondary students were briefed on the different categories of television programme services in Hong Kong and how audience could make informed viewing choices. The university students were briefed on the regulation of television and sound broadcasting services. CIBS participants were briefed on the programme standards governing radio services.

Participation in Communications Activities

OFCA continued to participate in the annual “Mountaineering Safety Promotion Day” jointly organised by the Civil Aid Service and 16 other government departments with the aim of promoting hiking safety. The event was held in October 2014 at Tin Shui Wai under the theme “Be Prepared for Your Outing.  Know More about Communications in Country Areas”. OFCA set up an exhibition booth at the event, providing visitors with useful information on effective communications means in country parks through exhibition panels, interactive games, demonstration of communication devices, and distribution of relevant publicity materials. 

OFCA has always been keen on supporting the industry’s activities. In addition to taking part in various industry campaigns as a supporting organisation, in 2014/15, OFCA continued to sponsor two major industry campaigns, including the Hong Kong World Telecommunications and Information Society Day (“WTISD-HK”) and the SafeWiFi Campaign. WTISD-HK is an annual campaign organised by CAHK which promotes awareness among youths on the role that information and communications technologies have played in our daily lives and in Hong Kong’s economic development.  The SafeWiFi Campaign is an annual event organised by the Hong Kong Wireless Technology Industry Association (“WTIA”) to promote public awareness of the importance of WiFi security.

The Work of Advisory Committees

Telecommunications Advisory Committees

Three advisory committees — the Telecommunications Regulatory Affairs Advisory Committee, the Radio Spectrum and Technical Standards Advisory Committee, and the Telecommunications Users and Consumers Advisory Committee — were established under OFCA in June 2012. These committees provide a regular and formal channel for the industry, the telecommunications service users and interested parties to advise OFCA on the formulation and implementation of various telecommunications regulatory measures and policies.

Members of the advisory committees are drawn from different parts of the telecommunications industry, relevant government departments and non-governmental organisations, as well as from the general public. This helps provide a balanced representation of views on at times highly technical and complex issues. The term of appointment is two years.

The membership lists of the three advisory committees as at 31 March 2015 can be found in Appendix B.

Television and Radio Consultative Scheme

The role of the Television and Radio Consultative Scheme is to provide qualitative input on television and radio programming to the CA’s public consultation process. Members are appointed from the territory’s 18 districts. In 2014/15, OFCA invited members to give their views during the public consultation exercise for the renewal of the analogue sound broadcasting licences of CRHK and Metro.