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The Office of the Telecommunications Authority (OFTA) has strengthened its enforcement actions against the use of unauthorised pay TV decoders in commercial premises and also the sale of unauthorised pay TV decoders during the World Cup period.
A spokesman for OFTA said, "To combat the use of unauthorised pay TV decoders for commercial purposes, we have increased the number of our regular patrols over the pubs and restaurants from a monthly average of 20 up to 48 in the previous month. Surprise checks and inspections have also been mounted against commercial premises suspected of using unauthorised decoders. We and the Police already conducted surprise checks on five pubs in June. No use of unauthorised decoders was found."
"We have also strengthened our enforcement actions against the sale of unauthorised pay TV decoders. We and the Police have conducted two raiding operations in the last two weeks in Sham Shui Po. A total of 14 suspected unauthorised decoders/smart cards/smart card programmers/satellite receivers were seized. During the operation, three persons were taken to the police station to assist in further investigation," the spokesman said.
"We resolve to clamp down these illegal activities, which are under the close surveillance of OFTA and the Police. We would further step up our enforcement actions against these illegal activities as and when necessary, such as during the World Cup period," the spokesman reiterated.
The spokesman warned that the selling, import, export, manufacture, offer for sale or let for hire an unauthorised TV decoder (including the decoder for reception of satellite broadcasting services not licensed on subscription basis in Hong Kong) is a criminal offence under the Broadcasting Ordinance. It is also a criminal offence under the Broadcasting Ordinance for use and possess of unauthorised TV decoders for commercial purposes, e.g., using such decoders in pubs or restaurants. The offender is liable to a maximum penalty of $1 million fine and five years¡¯ imprisonment upon conviction. In addition, both commercial and domestic users of unauthorised pay TV decoders will also be subject to civil court action by the pay TV operators.
Moreover, with the use of digital technology, pay TV operators can change the encryption of their TV services from time to time to render unauthorised decoders useless.
"Members of the public purchasing or using unauthorised pay TV decoders will not only suffer financial loss, but will also face serious legal consequences," the spokesman emphasised.
Ends/Monday, June 12, 2006
Issued at HKT 19:14
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