Media Statements

Retail Industry Campaign Launched for Protecting Consumers' Personal Information

(25 June 2013) The Office of Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data ("PCPD") and the Hong Kong Retail Management Association ("HKRMA") join hands to promote data privacy compliance in the retail industry.

Joint Efforts to Promote Compliance in a 9- Month Campaign

The PCPD is launching a nine-month privacy campaign "Driving Retail Excellence through Privacy Assurance"　in partnership with the HKRMA, with a view to promoting understanding of data protection requirements under the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance and good privacy practice among members of the retail industry.

Speaking at the kick-off ceremony of the campaign today, the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data, Mr Allan Chiang said, "We are pleased that retailers have responded proactively to the enhanced regulations on use of personal data in direct marketing. The first step for retailers to make their operation comply with the requirements for data privacy protection is to identify the privacy risks. Retail companies which are found to have misused customer data may face negative publicity, reduced customer confidence, lost business and even enforcement actions that can threaten the very viability of the business."

About 260,200 persons were engaged in the retail industry, accounting for 10% of the working population.

"I am glad that the retail industry has embraced data protection as a service imperative. I appeal to members of the industry to join hands with us in promoting the protection of personal data and in fostering a privacy-respectful culture in their respective companies. With enhanced customer trust, the efforts will help create a win-win outcome for the companies and the customers."

The Chairman of the HKRMA, Ms Caroline Mak credited the PCPD's efforts of working with the industry, "With growing public awareness on privacy and personal data collection, retailers are keen to address data privacy concerns in their operation. A Working Group will be formed with the participation of the retail practitioners to identify the compliance challenges in various business dimensions and to devise training programmes/assessment tools to facilitate compliance. I hope members of the industry will reap the benefits of this privacy-assuring exercise. After all, compliance can help further enhance customer confidence."

Industry-Specific Privacy Campaign

The Campaign is the seventh of a series of the PCPD's Industry-Specific Privacy Campaigns which commenced in 2007. Over the past seven years the campaign has engaged respectively the hotel industry, the real estate industry, medical practitioners from public hospitals, insurers, the telecommunication industry and the property management industry.

For details, visit www.pcpd.org.hk/retail/

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Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data, Mr Allan Chiang (left) and Chairman of the Hong Kong Retail Management Association, Ms Caroline Mak officiated at the kick-off ceremony of "Privacy Campaign for Retail Industry"