Cinema bosses and arts leaders said on Thursday that they want mobile phone jammers installed in theatres and movie houses to thwart audience members who are too unsophisticated, rude and ill-disciplined to switch off their phones.
The Telecommunications Authority plans to issue a consultation paper on the issue later this year to gauge sentiment on the use of electronic devices to jam signals in such venues.
Information Technology and Broadcasting Secretary Carrie Yau Tsang Ka-lai has warned that the move might see transmissions jammed outside the auditoriums. Mobile phone jamming devices also could affect communications on 999 lines in emergencies, she cautioned.
Raymond Ho Che-wai, spokesman for Golden Harvest Entertainment, which operates 27 screens at seven cinemas, said the company received at least two complaints a day from patrons.
'We support jammers because the noise seriously disturbs our audience and I feel most of them would support it,' Mr Ho said.
UA Theatres tested jammers in 1999 and found them to be 'very effective' without disrupting phones outside. The company is in favour of the devices - having seen two of its ushers punched by irate patrons who refused to switch off their phones.