OFCA clamps down on illegal sale of radio jammers

     The Office of the Communications Authority (OFCA) today (October 29) mounted a raid operation in Sham Shui Po against two radio dealers for the suspected sale of radio jammers, which are illegal and strictly prohibited in Hong Kong. In the operation, six pieces of such suspected illegal apparatus were seized and two persons were taken to the police station to assist in further investigation.

     "Radio jammers aim to interfere or even block radiocommunications by emitting radio waves at the same operating frequency as the targeted radio apparatus, and they are not licensable in Hong Kong. Notwithstanding that licensed radio dealers are authorised by the Communications Authority under the Telecommunications Ordinance (TO) to possess and deal in the course of trade or business in radio apparatus, it is an offence to sell radio jammers to any person in Hong Kong," a spokesman for OFCA said.

     The operation mounted today was an enforcement action taken following regular market surveillance against suspected selling of illegal apparatus. "We stand ready to enforce the TO and will not hesitate to take action to clamp down on any sale of illegal radio apparatus if it is identified," the spokesman added.

     Under the TO, it is an offence for any person to possess a radio apparatus (including radio jammer) without a valid licence, and/or intentionally use such a radio apparatus to cause harmful interference with legitimate radio apparatus. The offender is liable on summary conviction to a fine of $50,000 and to imprisonment for two years for the former offence, and to a fine of $50,000 and to imprisonment for six months for the latter.

     "The sale, possession and use of radio jammers is an offence, and citizens are strongly advised not to defy the law, as interfering with legitimate radiocommunications could have very serious consequences," the spokesman said.