The Communications Authority has fined Commercial Radio HK$120,000 after its English-language AM864 service failed to broadcast the required hourly news and weather reports during some periods over about four years. The regulator also found that inaccurate compliance records had been submitted.
The affected period began on 1 May 2022, and AM864 resumed hourly news and weather broadcasts in the relevant periods on 3 April 2026. The authority announced its ruling on 7 September 2026.
Commercial Radio told the authority that the missed broadcasts and inaccurate reports resulted from human error and administrative negligence, according to the regulator’s finding and the broadcaster’s explanation.
The authority said the omissions had only a minimal impact on listeners, but the breach was unacceptable because it continued for about four years.
Commercial Radio must submit proposals within one month to improve its internal procedures and monitoring systems, the authority said. It has also written to all licensed broadcasters to remind them of their continuing responsibility to comply with regulatory requirements.