| 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, 213Queen'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 | ||||||||
| |||||||||
TheCommunications Authority is astatutory body responsible for licensing and regulating the broadcasting and telecommunications industries inHong Kong. It was formed in 2012 through a merger of theHong Kong Broadcasting Authority,Television and Entertainment Licensing Authority, and theTelecommunications 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).
Theregulatory agency is ostensibly independent of the government,[1] but its executive functions are supported by theOffice of the Communications Authority (OFCA), a government department with a self-funding trust structure.[2][3] In 2020, the Communications Authority issued a statement againstRTHK concerning a comedy show for purportedly "denigrating and insulting" theHong 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]
The CA is headed by a chair and 11 other members:
The current Board of the CA[7] consist of:
Similar bodies around the world are: