Limitation of Prepaid SIM Cards: Hongkongers Faced with a Limit of Three Prepaid SIM Cards per Provider
In a bid to strengthen telecom security and protect consumers, Hong Kong authorities have proposed a significant change to the number of prepaid SIM cards a user can register with a telecommunications service provider. The government aims to reduce the current limit of 10 cards per user to just 3 [1].
The proposed changes are a deliberate measure to combat phone scams and fraudulent activities involving prepaid SIM cards. Despite earlier measures, phone scams remain prevalent, with many registered prepaid SIM cards being exploited in fraudulent activities such as selling registered SIM cards or using others' personal data to register cards [1][2].
The practice of providing or selling personal information for SIM registration undermines the real-name registration system, a loophole the government aims to close by criminalizing such behaviors to enhance the integrity of SIM card ownership [2][3]. Limiting prepaid SIM cards to three per person per operator aims to minimize the potential for misuse with minimal impact on most legitimate users [2][3].
New criminal offenses include improper use of SIM cards, with penalties up to HK$25,000 fines or 12 months imprisonment, enforced primarily by the police [1][2]. This legal framework serves as a deterrent against misuse.
The proposed changes may cause inconvenience during systems testing, according to a technology industry representative [4]. However, entities like companies, organizations, or families that require multiple SIM cards can still continue their authorized use with reasonable justification, so the measures are designed to cause minimal inconvenience to valid users [2].
Strengthening real-name registration and limiting SIM cards helps ensure that personal information linked to SIM ownership is accurate and harder to exploit fraudulently. However, it may raise privacy considerations regarding data handling and the extent of personal information required for verification [1][2].
The regulatory move reflects Hong Kong’s commitment to improving telecom security, protecting consumers, and responding to evolving scam tactics effectively. The amendments are expected to be submitted to the legislature for scrutiny in 2026 [2].
In summary, the proposal targets fraud reduction, improved accountability, and enhanced consumer protection by tightening SIM card registration rules and penalizing misuse, with anticipated positive impacts on data security and scam prevention while minimizing disruption to legitimate telecom users.
References: [1] South China Morning Post. (2023, March 15). Hong Kong to limit number of prepaid SIM cards per user to three to combat fraud. Retrieved from
The proposed changes in telecom security, including limiting the number of prepaid SIM cards per user, are aimed at combating phone scams and fraudulent activities related to SIM cards in the realm of cybersecurity. The new regulations also criminalize the practice of providing personal information for SIM registration to strengthen the integrity of SIM card ownership.
