Held on 11 October 2000 at OFTA's
Conference Room
| Present: |
Mr.
T.Y. Chan |
OFTA
(Chairman) |
| |
Mr.
Paul Anderson |
HARTS |
| |
Mr.
Stephen Tse |
HARTS |
| |
Mr.
Steven Beesley |
HARDXA |
| |
Mr.
Charlie Ho |
HARDXA |
| |
Mr.
Brett Graham |
ELARCS |
| |
Mr. T.
Nagata |
JAROC |
| |
Mr. S.
Nagayama |
JAROC |
| |
Mr.
W.L. Ho |
HKARA |
| |
Mr.
K.C. Chan |
HKARA |
| |
Mr.
W.H. Chiu |
CARSC |
| |
Mr.
W.P. Tang |
CARSC |
| |
Mr. Y.
C. Leung |
OFTA |
| |
Mr.
Eric Lam |
OFTA |
| |
Mr.
K.M. Tam |
OFTA |
| |
Mr.
K.T. Seto |
OFTA |
| |
Mr. Y.
L. Li |
OFTA
(Secretary) |
| 1. |
Confirmation of Notes of Last
Meeting
|
| |
The
notes of the meeting on 10 May 2000 were confirmed
without amendment. |
| |
Purpose
of the Liaison Meeting |
| 2. |
The
Chairman informed that the liaison meeting was to serve
as a communication channel between OFTA and the local
amateur radio societies for discussion and exchange of
views on various amateur radio matters. However, as a
majority of the amateur community was not represented by
the existing clubs and societies, OFTA might also need to
consultissue consultation papers to individual licensees
to seek their views when it considered appropriate. |
| |
Use
of Hilltop Sites
|
| 3. |
The
Chairman informed that hilltop radio sites were scare
resources and there was big demand for use from both
government and commercial users. Normally, only essential
services and public utilities were allowed to use hilltop
sites. Therefore OFTA would unlikely approve the
use of hilltop sites by amateurs. However, HARTS
would be permitted to maintain the existing repeater
station at Tate’s Cairn and operate a temporary station
in Tai Mo Shan for annual Trailwalker activity. Mr.
Anderson asked if OFTA was willing to allow operation of
a repeater at Pumphouse 9, Tai Mo shan on a seasonal
basis (i.e. during the Trailwalker activity period). The
chairman replied that the temporary use of Pumphouse 9 by
amateur for the annual Trailwalker event would be
supported. Mr. Anderson proposed OFTA to support
HARTS to keep the equipment cabinet at Pumphouse 9 after
the Trailwalker event so that installation of equipment
would be easier in the next year. The Chairman said
that OFTA did not have any objection but this was a
matter for GPA to decide. On request by the
GPA on the issue, OFTA would indicate no objection. |
| 4. |
Some
amateur societies questioned that OFTA had shifted its
policy toward the use of hilltop sites by amateurs. The
Chairman reiterated that hilltop radio sites were scarce
resources and only essential and public utility services
would be permitted to use hilltop sites. Some
amateur societies expressed that OFTA should review its
policy decision again. In response the Chairman
said that amateur societies might wish to write to OFTA
to provide justifications.
(Action : All societies) |
| |
Guideline
for Temporary Amateur Repeater Station |
| 5. |
The
Chairman said that guidelines for temporary amateur
repeater station would be ready in the following week. (Action
: OFTA) |
| |
ATO
Format |
| 6. |
Amateur
societies requested OFTA to put the photo of ATO holder
on the ATO to prevent illegal amateur activities. The
Chairman suggested to put the ID number of the ATO holder
on the ATO instead as the ID card could be used to verify
the ATO holder. Mr. Anderson said that they would
accept either the photo or the ID number being put on the
ATO. The Chairman further pointed out that consent
of the licensees were required in accordance with the
Privacy Ordinance and he would seek legal advice. (Action : OFTA) |
| 7. |
Mr.
Tse expressed his concern that newly issued ATO was not
laminated. This made it difficult for the holder to keep
the ATO in good shape for five years. The Chairman agreed
to review the arrangement. (Action
: OFTA) |
| |
Illegal
Operation/Interference on Amateur Bands |
| 8. |
Some
amateur societies submitted that RMU had not been acting
seriously to stop reported interference/illegal
activities on amateur bands. A typical scenario was the
RMU staff reported to the complainant, saying that the
occurrence of interference/illegal traffic was transitory
and not frequent; and proposed to close the case. Mr.
Tam informed that RMU always endeavoured to crack down
unauthorized transmission, though relatively higher
priority would be given to essential/security/public
services. |
| 9. |
Mr. Lam
added that OFTA would not tolerate any unauthorized radio
installation. For fixed stations, he expected no
great difficulty to clear them up within a short period
of time. For interference from mobile radio
stations, there was some practical difficulty and OFTA
would have to rely on roadblock operation. He
encouraged amateurs to provide further information and
OFTA would follow up all reports on unauthorized radio
installations or interference upon receipt of
information. |
| 10. |
The
representatives of the amateur societies opined that
roadblock operation was not an effective means to
eliminate illegal mobile operation. Mr. Beesley suggested
that OFTA might consider tighter control on the radio
importers and radio dealers. |
| 11. |
Mr.
Anderson asked if RMU could help to locate an illegal
phone patching station in Sha Tau Kok. Mr. Tam
replied that RMU would follow up the issue if sufficient
details were given. (Action : OFTA, all amateur radio societies) |
| |
ITU
Asia 2000 in Hong Kong |
| 12. |
Mr.
Anderson informed that the Chairman of IARU Region 3
would visit Hong Kong during the ITU Asia 2000 exhibition
period. HARTS would have the pleasure in having OFTA to
meet with the Chairman and have dinner. HARTS would send
an invitation letter to OFTA in due course. (Action
: HARTS) |
| |
Recognition
of Amateur Licence |
| 13. |
The
Chairman announced that work had been initiated for the
recognition of amateur licences by foreign
administrations. The first batch of targets would include
Australia, Canada, Japan, Macau SAR and the USA. |
| 14. |
Mr.
Anderson reported that Taiwan had already recognized
radio amateur licence issued by OFTA and requested OFTA
to include Taiwan and Mainland China in the list. The
Chairman said that these might be considered in the
second round. (Action
: OFTA) |
| |
Use
of 430 - 440 MHz by Amateur |
| 15. |
The
Chairman informed that one operator had been licensed to
provide vehicle location information service on 431.1 –
434.9 MHz. Enquiry had also been received from
prospective operators on the availability of UHF
frequencies for the operation of public radiolocation
service. In this connection, 436 – 440 MHz had been
reserved to serve the purpose. The request to
permit mobile and portable to operate in 430-440MHz was
not acceptable as it would cause interference to those
radiocommunication services in the UHF band. In
addition, the same problems experienced in the VHF 144
MHz band would repeat in the UHF band if mobile and
portable operating modes were permitted. |
| 16. |
The
amateurs raised strong objection to OFTA’s policy. They
thought that it was unfair that they had to be penalised
by depriving their right while those illegal users were
free to operate without any restrictions. They considered
that was a bad policy and would complain to the
appropriate authority. The Chairman replied that
OFTA had no intention to penalize amateur licensees and
the decision was made solely based on enforcement and EMC
considerations. |
| 17. |
Mr.
Charlie Ho requested OFTA to relax the existing
restrictions and allow them to operate SSTV on 430 –
431 MHz and 435 – 436 MHz. OFTA requested HARDXA
to provide futher justification for consideration. (Action
: HARDXA, OFTA) |
| |
Amateur
Bands in 1.2 GHz and 2.4 GHz |
| 18. |
HARDXA
requested OFTA to open up 1.2 GHz and 2.4 GHz band for
amateur satellite service on a secondary basis. OFTA was
reviewing the allocation of the bands for radio
navigation satellite service and IMT2000 respectively.
HARDXA was requested to advise OFTA of the exact
frequency slots in these bands and provide further
justifications for OFTA's consideration. (Action
: HARDXA) |
| |
Proposed
Class A/B Licence and Amateur Morse Test |
| 19. |
HARTS
had indicated its interest to take up OFTA’s role to
perform Morse test for amateurs. HARDXA expressed its
concern that in this way the test would not be conducted
in an unbiased manner. It would only support an
independent body but not any amateur societies to take up
the Morse test function. HARTS would explore if it could
coordinate with the vocational training council or other
educational bodies to organise the Morse test. It would
report progress to OFTA. (Action : HARTS) |
| 20. |
The
amateurs requested OFTA to introduce the Class A/B
licence which would allow the licensees, who had passed a
5wpm Morse test, to access all amateur bands with limited
power. The Class A/B licence had been issued in US,
Canada and Australia. Furthermore, they would also like
to ask OFTA to allow Class B licensee to operate in CW
mode on VHF, UHF and SHF bands. OFTA would consider
the requests in detail. (Action
: OFTA) |
| |
Hong
Kong Table of Frequency Allocation |
| 21. |
Currently,
CAD and HKO radars operated in 1260 –1270 MHz band and
5650 – 5670 MHz band respectively. The 2400 – 2450
MHz band was allocated for the operation of wireless
LAN/Bluetooth equipment. The 3400 – 3700 MHz band would
be used for the fixed satellite service. |
| 22. |
The
amateurs were requested to advise OFTA the exact
frequency slots in 3.4 GHz band which might be used for
amateur satellite service in this region for OFTA’s
consideration. (Action :
HARTS) |
| |
Any
Other Business |
| 23. |
165-195kHz
for Amateur Use HARTS
requested to open up 165 – 195 kHz for amateur
operation. OFTA pointed out that the band was not
allocated for amateur service in region 3. HARTS claimed
that the administrations of Australia and New Zealand had
allowed the amateurs to operate on the band. It would
gather information on power limits, mode of operation and
licensing conditions of other countries for OFTA’s
consideration. (Action : HARTS) |
| 24. |
New
Amateur Station Licence Format
The
Chairman pointed out that, as a result of the enactment
of the Telecommunications Ordinance, the TA would be
required to gazette the format of all telecommunications
licence. OFTA might take the chance to add minor
improvement to the existing Amateur Station Licence,
including the renewal period, permitted emission mode,
etc. In this connection, a consultation might be
conducted later. (Action
: OFTA) |
| 25. |
The
next meeting was tentatively scheduled in mid January
2001. There being no other business, the meeting
adjourned at 4:20pm. |