Media Statements

Date: 9 September 2016

Hong Kong Privacy Commissioner’s Office and CityU School of Law Host Symposium on Data Protection Law Development

(9 September 2016) The office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data, Hong Kong (“PCPD”) and the School of Law of the City University of Hong Kong today jointly organised the Symposium on “Data Protection Law Development in the Information Age” to provide a platform for privacy advocates, academics, policy makers, government and business leaders in the region to exchange views and share experience on the development of data protection regulatory frameworks and how to better handle changes ahead.

Presenting his welcome speech at the Symposium, the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data, Hong Kong, Mr Stephen Kai-yi WONG, said, “Whilst the rapidly changing information landscape creates more business opportunities, it also increases risk throughout the data life cycle.”

“As data privacy is becoming more interdisciplinary and cross-functional, coupled with the fact that free flow of data is, by design, border or boundary free, new challenges would only be expected. A key challenge arising from the rapidly evolving global privacy landscape is how to adapt the law and practices to address the collection, use and transfer of data where it does not merely involve the exchange of goods and services, but also data flow relating to commerce, finance, games, cyber bulling, public order and even crimes as we enter the age of artificial intelligence,” Mr Wong said.

Officiating at the opening session, the Under Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Ronald Ngok-pang CHAN, said that to work out a proper response to the challenges brought by technological advancements requires careful examination and continual review. “Given the mobile and borderless manner of data collection, storage and use in the modern era, it is essential for us to look at the development of data protection laws in different jurisdictions holistically.  I am thankful to the PCPD and the City University for bringing together experts from Hong Kong and other regions today to share their valuable experiences in this regard. ”

Also addressing the opening session today were the President and University Distinguished Professor of the City University of Hong Kong, Professor Way KUO and the Dean of the School of Law of the City University of Hong Kong, Professor Geraint HOWELLS.

The theme for the Symposium was entitled “Data Protection Law Development in the Information Age”. It consisted of three sessions with presentations and panel discussions. Various regulatory issues relating to data protection laws in Mainland China and other countries were addressed. Experience sharing on enforcement and compliance, data security, transparency, privacy changes and consumer data protection were also covered.

The one-day Symposium had drawn over 10 distinguished speakers from different parts of the world, including the Mainland China, Germany, Korea, Singapore, Malaysia and Macao, to share their expertise and views in the development of the relevant laws. Over 100 participants attended the Symposium today.

The Symposium also commemorated the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the PCPD, which has been discharging its regulatory functions to protect the personal data privacy of individuals with respect to their personal data.

Photos :

1. The Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data, Hong Kong, Mr Stephen Kai-yi WONG welcomed the guests and participants at the Symposium on “Data Protection Law Development in the Information Age” today (9 September 2016).


2. The Under Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Ronald Ngok-pang CHAN, officiated at the opening session of the Symposium.


3. Group photo: (first row from left) Under Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Ronald Ngok-pang CHAN, Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data, Hong Kong, Mr Stephen Kai-yi WONG, President and University Distinguished Professor of the City University of Hong Kong, Professor Way KUO, Dean of the School of Law of the City University of Hong Kong, Professor Geraint HOWELLS and the distinguished speakers of the Symposium.


4. An international panel of distinguished speakers has been lined up for this full-day Symposium.