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According to the OFCA’s code of practice for the industry, consumers may choose to terminate their contracts before the expiry of the fixed term and service providers must specify in the contract the fact that a specific charge may apply in the event of early termination. Photo: Shutterstock

Letters | Hong Kong internet providers must offer genuine choice for early contract termination

  • Readers call for better consumer protection on broadband service contracts and a whole-of-society effort to develop sports in Hong Kong, following the city’s Olympic success
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In 2010, the Communications Association of Hong Kong promulgated the Industry Code of Practice for Telecommunications Service Contracts to ensure contracts are fair and reasonable for both the consumers and the industry. According to the OFCA web page referring to the code on early contract termination, consumers may choose to terminate their contracts before the expiry of the fixed term and service providers must specify in the contract the fact that a specific charge may apply in the event of early termination.

As a customer of Hong Kong Broadband Network Limited (HKBN) that has adopted the industry code, I recently moved to a new apartment and asked HKBN to terminate my contract for broadband service early.

Yet, HKBN said the early contract termination charge is the same as the fees payable for the rest of the contract unless I moved to an address where HKBN services are not available. I believe such a policy violates the industry code as it deprives customers of the early contract termination option.

The practice is also anticompetitive as consumers moving to new addresses are not allowed to choose new service providers without paying a price.

I urge the Office of the Communications Authority and the Competition Commission to look into this matter to protect customers and to ensure a level playing field for all broadband service providers in Hong Kong.

Simon Wang, Kowloon Tong

Hong Kong can’t rest on its Olympic laurels

All Hongkongers were delighted that our athletes who participated in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games achieved unprecedented results. In light of their sporting success, the government has promised to make an enormous investment to upgrade local sports facilities. Still, there are other aspects we may ponder.

First, those who work in the sports industry should be respected and fairly paid. For decades, Hong Kong has been well-known as an international financial centre and for its buoyant real estate industry. Jobs as professional athletes and coaches have rarely been valued by society.

One should bear in mind that behind the city’s success in every significant sporting event is an assiduous athlete and their coaching personnel.

The education system should also be re-evaluated after this year’s Olympic Games. Many parents and educators see physical education merely as leisure or entertainment.

Over the past two years, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, physical education lessons at many schools have been suspended. While many teachers and parents have spared no effort to maintain the standard of teaching and learning for academic subjects, there has not been much discussion about physical education.

Although professional athletes are not nurtured at school, promoting health and physical fitness should not be seen as dispensable in local education. Although Hong Kong has a population of only 7.4 million, it can still produce world-class talent.

The fact that Edgar Cheung Ka Long won the city’s second Olympic gold medal in history indicates that there are many teenagers with huge potential.

Along with sports development, the government may also consider investing in artistic talent. Hong Kong has often been described as a cultural desert. However, with the support and emphasis of government and society, I’m sure we will see our own globally renowned artistic prodigies, on a par with pianist Lang Lang or comic book writer Stan Lee.

It is time for us to think about how to maintain the city’s international status in the future.

Mark Tse, Tuen Mun

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