The Telecommunications (Registration of SIM Cards) Regulation will take effect tomorrow to implement the Real-name Registration Programme for Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) Cards in two phases.

The registration programme requires that all SIM cards issued by telecommunications operators of Hong Kong to be used for local communications should have real-name registration within a specified period before activation.

Those operators need to put in place relevant infrastructure and systems for implementing real-name registration within phase one ending February 28, 2022, while the public can continue with the existing use of pre-paid SIM (PPS) cards and there is no imminent need for real-name registration.

Phase two will begin on March 1, 2022. All newly effective SIM service plan (SSP) services and new PPS cards issued from that date will require real-name registration before activation.

Existing PPS card users have to complete real-name registration with respective telecommunications operators before the end of phase two, by February 23, 2023. PPS cards without real-name registration can no longer be used after this phase.

For existing SSP users, they are not required to re-register with their telecommunications operators unless they change to another operator or subscribe to a new phone number.

The Commerce & Economic Development Bureau said the real-name registration programme will plug the existing loophole arising from the anonymous nature of SIM cards to assist law enforcement agencies in the detection of crimes involving the use of such SIM cards.

This will safeguard the integrity of telecommunications services and the communications network security, as well as law and order, it added.

According to the regulation, each individual user may register no more than 10 PPS cards with each telecommunications operator, while each corporate user may register up to 25 PPS cards. There is no limit on the number of registrable SSP cards.

The Communications Authority has issued guidelines to telecommunications operators to provide specific operational details and requirements of the programme, which will also take effect tomorrow.