Privacy Commissioner attended the 31st International Conference of Data Protection and Privacy Commissioners


1.    The Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data ("the Commissioner") Mr. Roderick B. Woo attended the 31st International Conference of Data Protection and Privacy Commissioners ("the Conference") from 4 to 6 November to discuss data protection issues with data protection and privacy commissioners around the world.  The Conference has achieved fruitful result.

2.    The 31st International Conference of Data Protection and Privacy Commissioners was held in Madrid, Spain with the theme "Privacy: Today is Tomorrow".  Issues such as the impact of technology development on personal data privacy, privacy and corporate governance, and protection of children's privacy were discussed.  Moreover, the Commissioner  chaired one of the panel discussions (title: "Companies, privacy and international data flows").

3.    The International Conference of Data Protection and Privacy Commissioners is the only international forum for data protection and privacy commissioners to meet annually and discuss data protection issues of mutual concern.  Delegates include hundreds of privacy commissioners, academics, privacy professionals, advocates, government officials and IT specialists from around the world.

4.    The Conference has two standing committees: (i) the Credential Committee (3 members), and (ii) the Steering Committee (12 members).  The Commissioner represents Hong Kong as a member in both committees.

5.    Hong Kong has been appointed a member of the Credential Committee since 2007 responsible for dealing with membership applications and giving recommendations to the Conference.  This year, Hong Kong is re-elected as a member of the Credential Committee (the other two members are Spain and Ireland) for a term of 2 years.

6.    Mr. Woo said, "I am honoured to be re-elected a member of the Credential Committee on behalf of Hong Kong.  This shows the brilliant result achieved by Hong Kong as one of the privacy jurisdictions on the protection of personal data privacy in the Asia-Pacific region, has gained the support and recognition of international data protection and privacy commissioners."



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