Hong Kong set to introduce real-name SIM card system from Sept 1

Each person could have up to 10 pre-paid cards from each service provider and consumers would be given up to March next year to register. - Bloomberg

HONG KONG (Reuters): Hong Kong plans to introduce a real-name registration system for mobile phone pre-paid SIM cards in September in a bid to fight crime in the financial hub, the government said on Tuesday (June 1), a move that is likely to stoke privacy and surveillance concerns.

Commerce Secretary Edward Yau said the new system would require people to register their name, identification card number and date of birth with the service provider, and authorities could use a warrant to request the information.