Hong Kong plans review of broadcast advertising rules amid online competition

Hong Kong plans to relax restrictions on indirect advertising by broadcasters as television operators face growing competition from online and streaming platforms, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Algernon Yau Ying-wah told the South China Morning Post. Yau said broadcasters had asked the government to review the Generic Codes of Practice for Television, arguing that existing rules made it difficult to compete and operate commercially. The government’s policy address had already promised a review to bring regulation into line with changing media conditions.

One proposed change would allow products shown during programmes to retain their logos. Yau said current rules were so restrictive that even a drink shown on screen could require its branding to be covered. He added that restrictions on other forms of advertising, including alcohol promotion, could also be considered.

The government would discuss the changes with other departments to assess their potential effects on the public. Yau said the aim was to give broadcasters greater flexibility while supporting the wider creative industry, including television and film. The review is expected to cover all media rather than broadcasting alone.

A consultation is planned for the final quarter of the year, with recommendations expected the following year. Yau said the process could extend beyond the current government’s term, but a five-year plan would help maintain policy continuity. He said the government had no immediate plan to impose equivalent restrictions on online and streaming media, describing control of internet content as difficult and a challenge faced by other jurisdictions.

Yau also said Hong Kong would not immediately amend its Copyright Ordinance to address the use of copyrighted material in artificial-intelligence training. He called such an amendment premature because AI was developing rapidly and said the government would issue guidance for businesses and individuals on AI development by the end of the year if possible.