A Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is reported to be planning an anti-spam law in 2006, taking aim at those sending spam or automated telemarketing phone calls.
The local administration of the former British protectorate is consulting with Internet industry groups to write a law to target spam email, spam faxes, spam text messages, and automated telemarketing.
Details had not yet been disclosed, but reports in the Asian Pacific press June 13 said Telecommunications Authority director general Au Man-ho issued a statement in which he said direct marketers using unsolicited automated calls "can be considered a spam problem."
Au was quoted as saying the law wouldn't cover traditional cold calling in "normal" business activities, but it would require a lot of public discussion, with administrators consulting with fixed-line and mobile operators to make a code of practice.
