People use their mobile phones as they walk through Exchange Square at Central in Hong Kong on Feb 23, 2023. (ANDY CHONG / CHINA DAILY)
HONG KONG – Users of prepaid SIM cards which have been deactivated for not completing real-name registration by the deadline, which was Feb 23, can register to reactivate the service within the validity period of the cards, the government announced on Friday.
Such registration can be completed via an electronic registration platform by following the instructions in an SMS notification reminder sent by the users’ respective telecommunications service providers before the registration deadline, according to a government press release.
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“Users can also complete the relevant procedures at the retail outlets of their respective telecommunications service providers,” the release reads.
As of Thursday, real-name registration has been completed for around 12 million prepaid SIM cards
A transitional period of around one year from March 1, 2022, to Feb 23, 2023, was given to allow users wishing to continue using their existing prepaid SIM cards to complete the real-name registration.
As of Thursday, real-name registration has been completed for around 12 million SIM cards, which was in line with the authorities' expectations.
Depending on the number of such registrations, the telecommunications service providers are committed to reactivating the service of the prepaid SIM cards within a short period of time, it added.
To help users, the real-name registration service counters set up by the government at 18 designated post offices will continue to provide support service for free until the end of March.
Users should bring along their Hong Kong identity card, the prepaid SIM cards to be registered, and their mobile phone, and provide information on the Hong Kong identity cards for the registration.
The government also set up support stations at 25 designated MTR stations late last year to help with the registration process.
The service counters and support stations have handled over 80,000 inquiries and registrations so far. Separately, the hotline of the Office of the Communications Authority (OFCA) has handled nearly 10 000 inquiries, the government said.
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The implementation of the real-name registration program seeks to plug the loophole arising from the anonymous nature of prepaid SIM cards to assist law enforcement agencies in the detection of crimes involving the use of such cards, thereby safeguarding the integrity of telecommunications services and the security of the communications networks, as well as law and order.
Since the relevant legislation of the real-name registration program came into force in September 2021, the SAR government has maintained close liaison with telecommunications service providers to ensure the smooth implementation of the program.
Starting Friday, all SIM cards issued and used locally, including SIM service plans and prepaid cards, must have their real-name registration completed before activation or continuation of service.