Twelve million SIM cards linked to users’ real names

Hong Kong’s pre-paid and service plan SIM card real-name registration drive has seen about 12 million users linked their real names, the government said on Tuesday, adding that people can still complete the registration even beyond Thursday's deadline.

Director-general of communications Chaucer Leung Chung-yin told a radio program this morning that according to the registration drive, all pre-paid SIM cards must be real-name registered before Thursday or they will be deactivated from that day.

However, Leung said people can still ask their telecom service provider for a resubmission of registration as long as their pre-paid SIM card is still valid with remaining balance.

He also said the administration is aware of people online offering to complete the real-name registration on behalf of others.

He said authorities have passed the information they collected to the police for investigation, warning that such acts amount to a criminal offense.