Communications Authority
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, the Telecommunications Ordinance, the Unsolicited Electronic Messages Ordinance, Communications Authority Ordinance, and the Broadcasting Ordinance.
The regulatory agency is ostensibly independent of the government, but its executive functions are supported by the Office of the Communications Authority, a government department with a self-funding trust structure. In 2020, the Communications Authority issued a statement against RTHK concerning a comedy show for purportedly "denigrating and insulting" the Hong Kong Police Force.Structure
The CA is headed by a chair and 11 other members:
The current Board of the CA 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
- 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
Similar bodies around the world are: