| Global Engagements
In dealing with the many privacy challenges that are universal to
privacy regulators around the world, it is important for data protection
authorities to work together to find global solutions. This year, the Privacy
Commissioner for Personal Data (“the Commissioner”) and his staff had
worked actively with major international and regional privacy networks
in keeping Hong Kong’s protection of personal data compatible with
international privacy standards.
International Conference of Data Protection and
Privacy Commissioners
The 30th International Conference of Data Protection and Privacy
Commissioners was held in Strasbourg, France in October 2008. The
theme of the Conference was "Protecting privacy in a borderless world".
Around 600 privacy commissioners, academics, privacy professionals,
advocates, government officials and IT specialists from around the
world gathered and discussed the need for binding data protection
rules in a globalized world and other privacy issues. Resolutions
were made on the urgent need for protecting privacy in a borderless
world, especially children’s online privacy, and the establishment of
International Privacy/Data Protection Day or Week.
| [photo] |
| The Commissioner Mr. Roderick Woo (third from right)
was the moderator of one of the panel discussions (title:
“The digitally assisted man: a digital angel or digital
devil?”) of the 30th International Conference of Data
Protection and Privacy Commissioners. |
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APEC Electronic Commerce Steering Group
("ECSG") Data Privacy Sub-group ("DPS")
The Commissioner continued to participate actively in the work of the
DPS. His staff attended the 18th ECSG meeting in Lima, Peru in August
2008 to review progress on the implementation of the APEC Data Privacy
Pathfinder Projects. In February 2009, the Commissioner attended the
First Technical Assistance Seminar on the Implementation of the APEC
Data Privacy Pathfinder and the meeting of ECSG in Singapore.
| The Commissioner Mr. Roderick Woo (left) and Ms.
Brenda Kwok, PCPD Chief Legal Counsel attended
the ECSG Data Privacy Sub-group meeting on 24
February 2009 in Singapore. |
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[photo] |
Asia Pacific Privacy Authorities
Asia Pacific Privacy Authorities (APPA) is the principal forum for privacy
authorities in the Asia Pacific Region to liaise and exchange ideas about
privacy regulation, new technologies and the management of privacy
enquiries and complaints. Members include the Privacy Commissioners
of Australia (including the Commissioners of the States of New South
Wales, Victoria and the Northern Territory), New Zealand, Canada
(including the Province of British Columbia), the Korean Information
Security Authority, and Hong Kong.
At its two bi-annual meetings, reports from members’ jurisdictions
on privacy developments were received and a wide range of topical
privacy issues were discussed.
At the 29th APPA Forum held from 19 to 20 June 2008 in Seoul, Korea,
commissioners shared their views on Korea’s personal information
protection policies, personal information grievance resolution, and
Internet Personal Identification Number (i-Pin) for protecting private
information. The Forum also resolved to continue its efforts to strengthen
relationships internationally between APPA members, the OECD and EU
member states.
| [photo] |
| The Commissioner Mr. Roderick Woo
(first from left) attended the 29th APPA Forum in
Seoul, Korea from 19 to 20 June 2008. |
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At the 30th APPA Forum held from 13 to 14 November 2008 in Melbourne,
Australia, commissioners reviewed the Resolutions from the 30th
International Data Protection Conference held in Strasbourg in October
2008. The results and analysis of a recent survey on the use of Portable
Storage Devices and related risks was provided and updates were given
on developments in data breach notification and privacy law reform in
several jurisdictions. Besides, commissioners also discussed locational
privacy and 'blacklists' in detail.
| [photo] |
| The Commissioner Mr. Roderick Woo
(third from right, first row) attended the
30th APPA Forum in Melbourne, Australia |
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| [photo] |
Overseas Visitors
In the year under review, the Office of the Privacy Commissioner
for Personal Data (”the PCPD”) received the following distinguished
overseas visitors and guests:
- 3 June 2008 – PCPD staff gave an introduction on the
implementation of the Ordinance to some visiting students
from the University of Ontario Institute of Technology, Canada.
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- 28 November 2008 – Mr. Zhang Kui Tang, Vice Director
of Shanghai Municipal Informat izat ion Commi s s ion
-Shanghai Municipal Credi t Service Admini s t rat ion
Office, Division for Social Credit System Development
（ 上海市信息化委員會 上海市征信管理辦公室 誠信
建設處 張奎堂副處長）, visited our office and learned from us
the regulatory experience in respect of consumer credit data.
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| [photo] |
- 5 December 2008 – PCPD staff met with the delegation from
National Human Rights Commission of Korea and gave them
an account of our work of different aspects.
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| [photo] |
- 16 December 2008 – the Commissioner met with a delegation
from the Shenzhen Administration for Industry and Commerce
（深圳市工商行政管理局參察團）and gave them a brief
account of our work in relation to the Code of Practice on
Consumer Credit Data.
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