Nuisance call law may be amended to lessen the impact on Hong Kong’s business sector, says government

A proposed law tackling nuisance calls in Hong Kong could be amended to minimise the harm to the business sector, commerce officials said on Tuesday, as lawmakers warned the new measures could inflict damage on innocent parties.

At a panel meeting at the Legislative Council, permanent secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Clement Leung Cheuk-man said the government could discuss with the commercial sector to alleviate the negative impact on normal business activities caused by regulating person-to-person calls.

“When we make the amendment, we can discuss this matter further with our friends in the business sector. Just as when handling other laws, if they affect the business sector, we will go to a committee on facilitation to talk about how to avoid affecting normal business exchanges,” Leung said.

Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Edward Yau Tang-wah also said the law should not be a scourge for businesses: “If there are some areas where we did not do enough, we are willing to discuss or amend them.”

Their assurances came after the Liberal Party’s Peter Shiu Ka-fai, who represents the wholesale and retail sector, blasted the government proposal for potentially hurting the city’s businesses.

Under the proposal, a do-not-call register would be set up to reduce disturbances to residents; all person-to-person calls sent or received in Hong Kong for commercial purpose would be governed by the scheme.