Privacy Commissioner commences hearing on the investigation of the "Octopus Rewards" program

1.   1. The Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data ("the Commissioner") Mr. Roderick B. Woo initiated a formal investigation on 21 July on the Octopus Holdings Limited and the Octopus Rewards Limited, which is responsible for the "Octopus Rewards" program. The investigation is carried out pursuant to section 38(b) of the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance ("the Ordinance") to ascertain whether the collection and disclosure of the members' personal data for direct marketing purpose is a contravention of a requirement under the Ordinance, including but not limited to Data Protection Principle 1 and 3 in Schedule 1 to the Ordinance and section 34 of the Ordinance.

2.   The Commissioner also decided to exercise his power under section 43 of the Ordinance to hold a hearing and summon witnesses to assist in the investigation of the case.

3.   The hearing will be held at 9:30 a.m. on Monday 26 July at the Commissioner's Office. The Commissioner has served summonses on the persons in charge of the Octopus Holdings Limited, the Octopus Rewards Limited, CIGNA and Card Protection Plan Ltd.

4.   The hearing will be held in public. Due to the limited space in the Commissioner's Office and the requirements of the Fire Services Regulations, only those members of the public who have made prior registration with the Commissioner's Office will be admitted. For the best interest of the public, priority will be given to media representatives, who will report the proceedings to the public.

5.   The Commissioner understands that the serious concerns of the public in the investigation and he hopes that all parties concerned will cooperate to help complete the investigation as soon as possible.



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