Communications Authority
| 通訊事務管理局 | |
 | |
| Statutory body overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1 April 2012 |
| Preceding agencies |
|
| Type | Statutory body |
| Jurisdiction |  Hong Kong |
| Headquarters | Wu Chung House, 213 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai |
| Minister responsible |
|
| Deputy Minister responsible |
|
| Key document |
|
| Website | coms-auth.hk |
| Communications Authority | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional Chinese | 通訊事務管理局 | ||||||||
| |||||||||
The Communications Authority is a statutory body responsible for licensing and regulating the broadcasting and telecommunications industries in Hong Kong. It was formed in 2012 through a merger of the Hong Kong Broadcasting Authority, Television and Entertainment Licensing Authority, and the Telecommunications Authority. The organisation is authorized to investigate complaints made regarding programmes, issue warnings and fines, or even suspend the license of the radio or television station.
The authority enforces the Broadcasting Ordinance (Cap. 562), the Telecommunications Ordinance (Cap. 106), the Unsolicited Electronic Messages Ordinance (Cap. 593), Communications Authority Ordinance, and the Broadcasting (Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance (Cap. 391).
The regulatory agency is ostensibly independent of the government,[1] but its executive functions are supported by the Office of the Communications Authority (OFCA), a government department with a self-funding trust structure.[2][3] In 2020, the Communications Authority issued a statement against RTHK concerning a comedy show for purportedly "denigrating and insulting" the Hong Kong Police Force.[4]
In 2023, the agency recommended to the Chief Executive that free-to-air broadcasters transmit 30 minutes of patriotic and national security programming every week; the Chief Executive, John Lee, accepted the idea and made it mandatory.[5]
In July 2023, the agency proposed that national security media be exempt from a requirement that programs be impartial with "even-handedness," as well as certain media from mainland China.[6]
Structure[edit]
The CA is headed by a chair and 11 other members:
The current Board of the CA [7] consist of:
- Winnie TAM Wan-chi, SC - Chair
- Eliza LEE Man-ching, JP - Vice-chair
- Karen CHAN Ka-yin, JP
- Stephen HUNG Wan-shun
- Yvonne LAW SHING Mo-han, BBS, JP
- Thomas LO Sui-sing, JP
- Hubert NG Ching-wah
- Anthony William SEETO Yiu-wai
- Benjamin TANG Kwok-bun, GBS
- XU Yan
- Ray YEP Kin-man
- Agnes WONG Tin-yu, JP
List of Chairman[edit]
- Ambrose Ho 2012–2017: former Chairman of the Broadcasting Authority 2008-2012
- Mr Huen Wong, BBS, JP 2017-?
- Ms Winnie TAM Wan-chi, SC ?-present
Comparisons[edit]
Similar bodies around the world are:
- Australia: Australian Communications and Media Authority
- Canada: Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC)
- France: Regulatory Authority for Audiovisual and Digital Communication (formerly Superior Audiovisual Council and earlier ORTF)
- United Kingdom: Office of Communications (Ofcom)
- United States: Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
References[edit]
- ^ "Communications Authority - Welcome Message". www.coms-auth.hk. Archived from the original on 8 October 2018. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
- ^ "Communications Authority - The Secretariat". www.coms-auth.hk. Archived from the original on 8 October 2018. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
- ^ "OFCA Trading Fund Report 2012/13" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 31 December 2015. Retrieved 30 December 2016.
- ^ Lee, Gigi (19 May 2020). "Hong Kong Government Broadcaster Axes Satirical Show After Police Criticism". Radio Free Asia. Archived from the original on 20 May 2020. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
- ^ Grundy, Tom (14 February 2023). "Hong Kong's free-to-air broadcasters ordered to transmit 30-mins of patriotic and security programming per week". Hong Kong Free Press HKFP. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
- ^ Lee, James (18 July 2023). "Hong Kong mulls exempting national security TV, radio shows from impartiality requirement". Hong Kong Free Press HKFP. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
- ^ "Communications Authority - Chairman & Members". www.coms-auth.hk. Archived from the original on 8 October 2018. Retrieved 23 May 2020.