Enhanced industry regulatory scheme for marketing calls launched

This includes requiring telemarketers to provide their names and contact numbers upon recipients' requests.

Twelve trade associations across seven industries introduced an upgraded industry regulatory scheme for marketing calls, aimed at strengthening oversight of telemarketing practices.

The trade associations representing finance, insurance, telecommunications, call centres, beauty, estate agencies, and money lenders will enforce enhanced Codes of Practice on Person-to-Person Marketing Calls (Industry Codes). These regulations mandate telemarketers to disclose their identities and contact details upon request and impose limits on the frequency of calls to individual numbers within specified intervals.

During the launch ceremony, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Algernon Yau cited the government's commitment to responding to public concerns about intrusive marketing practices. 

He said that the collaboration with trade associations aims to refine Industry Codes whilst ensuring minimal disruption to business operations, particularly for micro, small, and medium enterprises reliant on telemarketing.

The initiative, originally pioneered by finance, insurance, telecommunications, and call centres in 2011, has now expanded to include the beauty, estate agencies, and money lenders sectors, injecting new dynamism into the regulatory framework.

Yau also called upon all participating industries to uphold unity and cooperation, fostering a more harmonious business environment that balances operational needs with consumer protection.