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 2017/18, we attended a total of 18 conferences/meetings held by regional and international organisations, including the ITU, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (“APEC”), Asia Pacific Telecommunity (“APT”), International Institute of Communications (“IIC”) and Unsolicited Communications Enforcement Network. The more significant events of the year were the ITU Global Symposium for Regulators, ITU Telecom World, the General Assembly of the APT and the IIC International Regulators Forum. We will continue to participate in the activities of the ITU, APEC and APT with the aim of improving the telecommunications and information infrastructure in the Asia-Pacific region.

Exchanges with Mainland China and Overseas Authorities

In 2017/18, we received three delegations from the Mainland and overseas, and exchanged views and experiences with them on various issues relating to communications services. They included a delegation from the Shanghai Radio Administration Bureau of Mainland China, a delegation from the Infocomm Media Development Authority of Singapore and a joint delegation from the Bureau of Radio Regulation of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the State Radio Spectrum Management Center and Aerospace Dongfanghong Spacesat Co. Ltd of Mainland China.

During the year, we attended meetings in Shenzhen with the Bureau of Radio Regulation of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Economic and Information Commission of Guangdong Province and the Shenzhen Radio Administration Bureau of Mainland China, as well as meetings in Shenzhen and Beijing with the then State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television of Mainland China. We also had annual bilateral meetings in Guangdong and Macao with the Guangdong Communications Administration of Mainland China and Macao Post and Telecommunications Bureau of Macao respectively.

Media and Community Relations

We proactively keep the public and the media informed of our work. In 2017/18, we issued 29 press releases on the CA’s major decisions in relation to broadcasting and telecommunications regulatory issues and OFCA’s major initiatives, operations and events. The speeches and presentations made by the Director-General of Communications at public events and industry conferences are also 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 2017/18, we gave eight talks concerning broadcasting services in Hong Kong to students of five primary schools, one secondary school and one university; and four 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 audiences could make informed viewing choices. The university students were briefed on the regulation of television and sound broadcasting services. The participants of CIBS were briefed on the programme standards of 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 17 other government departments and organisations in October 2017 in Wan Chai. With the aim of promoting hiking safety, OFCA set up an exhibition booth at the event and delivered a talk to visitors to promote effective means of communication in country parks.

OFCA has been supporting the industry’s activities. In 2017/18, we sponsored the World Telecommunication and Information Society Day Hong Kong 2018, an annual activity organised by the CAHK to promote the latest developments in information and communications technology industries to the public, especially the youth and academic communities.

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, 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 sectors of the telecommunications industry, relevant government departments, non-governmental organisations, as well as 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 2018 are at Appendix B.

Television and Radio Consultative Scheme

The role of the Television and Radio Consultative Scheme (“TRCS”) is to provide qualitative input on television and radio programming to the CA’s public consultation process. Members are drawn from 18 districts of the territory. In 2017/18, OFCA invited members of the TRCS to give their views on the review of the regulations governing indirect advertising and advertisements for undertakers and associated services during the public consultation. Members were also invited to participate in focus group discussions to provide more in-depth views on the subjects.