Hong Kong is strengthening its response to telecommunications fraud through tighter monitoring requirements for telecoms providers, expanded scam call blocking measures and proposed reforms to SIM card registration rules. In a written reply to the Legislative Council on 7 October 2026, the Government said the Communications Authority and law enforcement agencies had intensified collaboration with telecommunications service providers to reduce fraudulent calls and online scams. The measures form part of a broader strategy to improve cyber resilience and public confidence in digital communications.
According to the official Legislative Council reply, the Government’s First Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (2026-2030) includes stronger action against telecommunications and cyber fraud. The initiative builds on wider efforts linked to telecom and online fraud prevention measures already under review in the territory.
Expanded scam call monitoring requirements
The Communications Authority introduced the Code of Practice on Management of Scam Calls and Scam SMS by Telecommunications Service Providers in April 2023. The code requires telecommunications providers to monitor calls and messages for suspicious activity patterns and suspend services linked to potentially fraudulent numbers.
Authorities said providers are now using artificial intelligence and big data technologies to identify suspicious activity, such as unusually high volumes of calls or messages sent within a short period. In December 2025, the code was revised to tighten detection criteria following operational reviews.
From January to August 2026, the average monthly number of local telephone numbers suspended fell to around 5,700, compared with approximately 11,400 during the same period in 2025. The Government said the reduction indicated improved effectiveness in identifying and disrupting fraudulent activity.
Cross-agency coordination strengthens enforcement
Hong Kong introduced additional licence conditions for telecommunications providers in 2022 under the Telecommunications Ordinance. These conditions require providers to block or suspend telephone services and websites suspected of involvement in fraud when requested by law enforcement agencies.
Since September 2022, police and major telecommunications providers have operated a joint mechanism to rapidly disable suspicious numbers and websites identified through fraud investigations. By the end of August 2026, authorities reported that more than 120,000 webpage links and over 17,000 local and overseas telephone numbers had been blocked or suspended.
Separate controls targeting spoofed calls have also expanded. Since April 2023, telecommunications providers have been required to block suspicious incoming calls using the “+852” Hong Kong prefix from outside the territory. Authorities stated that more than 8.9 million such calls had been blocked by the end of August 2026.
Public warning systems and anti-scam tools
The Office of the Communications Authority has also directed telecommunications providers to offer call management and filtering services. These systems allow users to apply blacklist or whitelist settings to reduce nuisance and suspicious calls. Some providers offer the services free of charge for residents aged 60 or above.
Voice and text alerts for incoming overseas calls using the “+852” prefix have been fully implemented since May 2023. In December 2024, authorities introduced an additional automated voice notification for calls made from newly activated local pre-paid SIM cards.
Government departments and public organisations have also adopted dedicated telephone numbering arrangements to help residents identify official communications. These include hotline numbers such as 1823 and 18222, along with dedicated prefixes introduced for healthcare-related services in 2026.
The Police-operated Scameter platform, launched in 2022, has become a central component of the territory’s fraud prevention strategy. The associated “Scameter+” mobile application includes call alert and suspicious website detection functions introduced in February 2024. As of August 2026, Scameter had recorded more than 16 million searches, while the mobile application had exceeded 1.28 million downloads. Authorities said the system had alerted users to at least 410,000 suspicious calls and more than 1 million potentially fraudulent websites.
The broader anti-fraud strategy aligns with Hong Kong’s wider efforts to strengthen digital resilience and cybersecurity preparedness, including ongoing work on cybersecurity capability development in the AI era and reviews of emerging digital governance risks.
SIM registration reforms under review
The Government said it is conducting a comprehensive review of the Real-name Registration Programme for SIM Cards. Proposed measures include lowering the maximum number of pre-paid SIM cards that individuals may register and creating new offences covering the misuse of SIM cards registered under another person’s identity.
Authorities stated that legislative amendment details are being prepared and that public consultation will take place when appropriate. The Communications Authority said it would continue monitoring compliance with licence conditions and the code of practice, with sanctions available for breaches under the Telecommunications Ordinance.
This article is created with the assistance of OpenGov AI.