Press Release
Another Successful Raid against Unauthorised Pay TV Decoders

The Office of the Telecommunications Authority (OFTA) and the Police mounted another successful raiding operation on January 19 (Wednesday) against the sale of unauthorised pay TV decoders in Shamshuipo.

A total of 4 suspected unauthorised decoders, 21 smart cards and 9 smart card programmers were seized and 3 persons were taken to the police station to assist in further investigation.

This was the second successful blitz against illegal TV decoders mounted by the two departments within a week in the same location. On January 13, the officers seized 7 unauthorised decoders, 41 smart cards and 30 smart card programmers during the raid.

A spokesman for the OFTA warned that the selling, import, export, manufacture, offer for sale or let for hire of an unauthorised TV decoder is a criminal offence under the Broadcasting Ordinance. The offender is liable to a maximum penalty of HK$1 million fine and five years' imprisonment upon conviction.

"In a recent case, the offender was convicted for an imprisonment of three months.

"We will not hesitate to take enforcement actions against these illegal activities, which are under the close surveillance of the Police and OFTA," the spokesman said.

The spokesman also pointed out that using illegal decoders for commercial purposes, such as pirated viewing of pay TV programmes in a restaurant, is a criminal offence. Both commercial and domestic users of the decoder will also be subjected to civil court action by the pay TV operators.

"Members of the public purchasing or using the decoders will not only suffer from financial loss, but will also face serious legal consequences.

"The Government will continue to work with the industry to clamp down on these illegal activities. It is also the primary responsibility of the pay TV operators to adopt protective measures against TV privacy," the spokesman said.

Office of the Telecommunications Authority
23 January 2005