Cap. 268 sub. leg. A

News Agencies Registration Regulations(Cap. 268, section 18) [1 July 1951](Format changes—E.R. 1 of 2018) 1. Citation These regulations may be cited as the News Agencies Registration Regulations. 2. Application These regulations shall apply to any news agency in respect of the bulletins of which the Registrar has under regulation 18 of the Newspapers Registration and Distribution Regulations (Cap. 268 sub. leg. B) declared himself to be satisfied that they are distributed in Hong Kong only to local newspapers registered under such regulations.(L.N. 94 of 1988) 3. Registration of news agencies Every news agency shall be registered in accordance with these regulations. 4. Particulars to be furnished to Registrar In order to effect registration, one of the persons specified in regulation 5 shall furnish to the Registrar the particulars specified in Form 1 in the Schedule and shall certify the correctness of such particulars and of his own description.(L.N. 94 of 1988; L.N. 173 of 1995) 5. Particulars to be certified by proprietor, etc. The particulars specified shall be furnished and certified by the proprietor or manager of the news agency. 6. Substituted particulars to be furnished and certified when any change occurs or any inaccuracy is discovered If any change occurs or if any inaccuracy is discovered, in any of the specified particulars, the persons specified in regulation 5 shall, within 7 days, furnish to the Registrar substituted particulars in Form 2 in the Schedule noting any change in the particulars furnished under regulation 4 and shall certify the correctness of such substituted particulars and of their own descriptions: (L.N. 94 of 1988)Provided that if one of such persons complies with the requirements of this regulation the obligations imposed by this regulation on any other person shall be deemed to have been discharged as regards the substituted particulars so furnished. 7. Change of identity of editor A change shall be deemed to have occurred in the identity of the editor if the editor is absent from Hong Kong or if he ceases substantially to exercise the functions of an editor.(L.N. 94 of 1988) 8. How a certificate is to be given in the case of a company or firm If the particulars are furnished by a company the certificate shall be given by a director, manager, secretary or other officer of the company, and if the particulars are furnished by a firm the certificate shall be given by a partner of the firm. 9. Printing and publication prohibited unless regulations are complied with No person shall print or publish or act as editor of, or continue to print or publish or act as editor of, any news agency unless all the requirements of these regulations with respect to such news agency have been complied with. 10. News agency register The particulars furnished in accordance with the provisions of these regulations shall be kept by the Registrar as a register of news agencies.(L.N. 94 of 1988) 11. Fees for search inspection and extract from news agency register Any person may search and inspect any news agency register on payment of $43 for every such search and inspection, and any person may require an extract from any news agency register to be certified by the Registrar on payment of $165 for every such extract.(L.N. 94 of 1988; L.N. 56 of 1993; L.N. 214 of 1994; L.N. 103 of 2005; L.N. 55 of 2014; L.N. 181 of 2016) 12. Copies of particulars The Registrar shall—(a) upon the registration of a news agency following the furnishing under regulation 4 of particulars specified in Form 1 in the Schedule; and(b) upon the furnishing under regulation 6 of substituted particulars specified in Form 2 in the Schedule,send by post a copy of Form 1 or Form 2, as the case may be, to each person named therein.(L.N. 94 of 1988) 13. Registration fees, etc. (1) A fee of $1,090 shall be payable on registration under regulation 3.(2) An annual fee of $920 shall be payable for every year other than the first during which such registration remains in force and shall become due on the anniversary of the day upon which the registration was effected.(3) A fee of $140 shall be payable on every occasion upon which substituted particulars are furnished under regulation 6.(L.N. 94 of 1988; L.N. 56 of 1993; L.N. 214 of 1994; L.N. 103 of 2005; L.N. 55 of 2014; L.N. 181 of 2016) 14. Exemption (1) The Registrar may exempt any news agency from all or any of the provisions of these regulations.(2) Any person seeking exemption of a news agency under paragraph (1) who is aggrieved by a decision of the Registrar under that paragraph may appeal by way of petition to the Chief Executive who— (34 of 1999 s. 3)(a) may regard such petition as being complete for the purposes of considering the appeal; and(b) may confirm, vary or reverse such decision or substitute therefor such other decision or make such other order as he may think fit.(3) The right of appeal provided by paragraph (2) shall not be exercisable by any person after the expiration of 7 days from the notification to him in writing of the Registrar’s decision.(L.N. 94 of 1988) 15. Offences and penalties Any person who contravenes regulation 3, 4, 5, 6 or 9 shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine at level 1 and to imprisonment for 6 months.(G.N.A. 27 of 1954; L.N. 94 of 1988; E.R. 5 of 2021) Schedule [regs. 4, 6 & 12]Form 1 Registration of Local Newspapers Ordinance (Chapter 268) News Agencies Registration Regulations Particulars of Proprietor and Manager of News Agency and Printer, Publisher and Editor of Bulletin Name of news agency Address of news agency Full name of proprietor Business address of proprietor .Tel.: *Hong Kong identity card no. of proprietor Signature or seal of proprietor Full name of manager Business address of manager .Tel.: *Hong Kong identity card no. of manager Signature or seal of manager Full name of printer of bulletin Business address of printer .Tel.: *Hong Kong identity card no. of printer Signature or seal of printer Full name of publisher of bulletin Business address of publisher .Tel.: *Hong Kong identity card no. of publisher Signature or seal of publisher Full name of editor of bulletin Business address of editor .Tel.: *Hong Kong identity card no. of editor Signature or seal of editor I certify that the above particulars and my description are correct. ** Signature of informant: Description of informant: (proprietor/manager/or otherwise) Date: Note: *(i) Where no Hong Kong identity card is held a passport or other travel document no. should be inserted. In the case of a company or other body corporate the company registration no. should be inserted. **(ii) In the case of a company or other body corporate the informant should be a director, manager, secretary or other officer of that company or body corporate. In the case of a firm or partnership the informant should be a partner of that firm or partnership. (L.N. 470 of 1995) _Form 2 Registration of Local Newspapers Ordinance (Chapter 268) News Agencies Registration Regulations Change of Particulars of News Agency or Bulletin Particulars Existing Substituted ***Date of Change Name of news agency Address of news agency Full name of proprietor Business address of proprietor Tel.: Tel.: *Hong Kong identity card no. of proprietor Signature or seal of new proprietor Full name of manager Business address of manager Tel.: Tel.: *Hong Kong identity card no. of manager Signature or seal of new manager Full name of printer of bulletin Business address of printer Tel.: Tel.: *Hong Kong identity card no. of printer Signature or seal of new printer Full name of publisher of bulletin Business address of publisher Tel.: Tel.: *Hong Kong identity card no. of publisher Signature or seal of new publisher Full name of editor of bulletin Business address of editor Tel.: Tel.: *Hong Kong identity card no. of editor Signature or seal of new editor I certify that the above particulars and my description are correct. ** Signature of informant: Description of informant: (proprietor/manager/or otherwise) Date: Note: *(i) Where no Hong Kong identity card is held a passport or other travel document no. should be inserted. In the case of a company or other body corporate the company registration no. should be inserted. **(ii) In the case of a company or other body corporate the informant should be a director, manager, secretary or other officer of that company or body corporate. In the case of a firm or partnership the informant should be a partner of that firm or partnership. ***(iii) Insert “No change” where furnished particulars remain unchanged. (L.N. 94 of 1988; L.N. 470 of 1995)