Hongkongers may soon be limited to 3 prepaid SIM cards per service provider

Hong Kong authorities have proposed reducing the maximum number of prepaid SIM cards a user can register with a telecommunications service provider from 10 to just three, and penalising those who misuse them.

An analyst said on Wednesday that the government should toughen the registration requirement to minimise the chances of personal data misuse by scammers, while a technology industry representative said the proposed changes would cause inconvenience in systems testing.

A paper submitted to the Legislative Council on Tuesday detailed the suggested amendments to the Telecommunications Ordinance. The proposals are expected to be discussed by the legislature’s IT panel next Monday and scrutinised by lawmakers next year to strengthen efforts against rising phone scams in the city.

Improper use of SIM cards registered under another person’s information without authorisation can result in a maximum fine of HK$25,000 (US$3,185) or up to one year in prison.

“The government believes that [the proposed measures] can effectively combat fraudulent activities involving prepaid SIM cards, and [better protect] telecommunications service users from potential harm,” authorities said in the paper.

The government said the proposed offences would target illegal activities involving the provision of personal information to register SIM cards on behalf of others, as well as the sale or purchase of already registered ones.