Privacy Commissioner attended the 33rd Asia Pacific Privacy Authorities Forum

1.    The Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data ("the Commissioner"), Mr. Roderick B. Woo attended the 33rd Asia Pacific Privacy Authorities (APPA) Forum in Darwin, Australia on 3 and 4 June 2010 to represent Hong Kong in exchanging views and expertise with other APPA members on privacy issues.

2.    In attendance were the Privacy Commissioners or representatives of Australia, Hong Kong, Korea, Northern Territory, New Zealand, and Victoria.  Representatives from privacy related authorities in other jurisdictions also attended as observers, including those from the USA’s Federal Trade Commission, Japan’s Consumer Affairs Agency, Korea’s Korean Communications Commission, Macao’s Office for Personal Data Protection, and the Australian states of Queensland, South Australia and the Australian Capital Territory.

3.    Each delegation presented reports detailing recent privacy developments that have occurred within its jurisdiction. 

4.    Members agreed at this meeting to establish a Technology Working Group and that Hong Kong is to be the leader.  The functions of the Group are to act as a focal point for APPA Forum and may include the development of a database to consolidate views, experiences, case notes and guidance notes.  In view of its importance, “privacy and technology” shall be a standing item in the agenda of all future APPA meetings.

5.    Members also agreed to broaden APPA’s membership reflecting the fact that the Forum is growing in strength and support.

6.    It was also at this meeting that Mr. Woo’s proposals to enlarge the objectives of the Forum were adopted.  These proposals were :-

• Jointly promoting privacy awareness activities
• Working together to make contributions in international contexts
• Liaising and cooperating with others
  

7.    This was the last APPA meeting for Mr. Woo who shall be stepping down as Hong Kong’s Privacy Commissioner in two months’ time.  Members acknowledged at the conclusion of the meeting the contributions he had made to the affairs of APPA in the past five years.

8.    More information about APPA is available at   www.privacy.gov.au/aboutus/international/appa.

END