Media Statements
Privacy Commissioner’s Office Hosts the 65th Asia Pacific Privacy Authorities Forum
Date: 22 June 2026
Privacy Commissioner’s Office Hosts the 65th Asia Pacific Privacy Authorities Forum
The Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data, Hong Kong (PCPD) hosted the 65th Asia Pacific Privacy Authorities (APPA) Forum (Forum) from 16 to 17 June 2026 in Hong Kong. More than 100 representatives from privacy or data protection authorities across the Asia-Pacific region attended the Forum to exchange insights on topical privacy issues, share recent regulatory developments and enforcement challenges, and explore best practices in the protection of personal data privacy. The Forum also formed part of the commemorative events marking the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the PCPD.
In the opening session, the Under Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs (USCMA), Mr Clement WOO Kin-man, MH, JP, delivered a congratulatory message. Mr Woo said, “Hong Kong is the first jurisdiction in Asia to establish a comprehensive personal data privacy law. We have maintained a high standard of enforcement to protect privacy all along, with the PCPD’s work recognised by both the general public and the international community. The Asia Pacific Privacy Authorities Forum serves as a much treasured platform in bringing together regulators in the region to exchange insights, devise common standards, advance best practices, and co-ordinate enforcement strategies to safeguard personal data privacy. The privacy risk can be sufficiently mitigated only through better alignment on regulatory and enforcement approaches.”
The Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data, Hong Kong (Privacy Commissioner), Ms Ada CHUNG Lai-ling, SBS, who chaired the Forum, said in her welcome address, “For the last three decades, APPA has given privacy or data protection authorities across the Asia–Pacific region a platform to connect, exchange views and share practical experiences with a shared mission in mind: building a trusted environment to safeguard personal data in the region. Against this backdrop, delegates come together for the 65th APPA Forum to engage in meaningful dialogue and exchange insights into safeguarding data privacy and addressing topical privacy issues.”
On the first day of the Forum, the Assistant Privacy Commissioner (Complaints and Criminal Investigation), Ms Rebecca HO Kan-yeuk, provided an update on the tremendous success of PCPD’s enforcement and promotional as well as educational efforts in combatting doxxing since the introduction of anti-doxxing provisions in the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance in October 2021.
On the second day of the Forum, the Privacy Commissioner, as co-chair of the International Enforcement Cooperation Working Group of the Global Privacy Assembly, reported on the work of the Working Group to the attendees. In addition, the Assistant Privacy Commissioner (Compliance, Global Affairs and Research), Mr Alex CHAN Chung-man, provided an overview of the PCPD’s guidance on “Abuse of AI Deepfakes: Toolkit for Schools and Parents” published in December 2025.
Following two expert presentations on key data protection and privacy risks associated with agentic artificial intelligence (AI) and the regulation of emerging AI technologies in China, the Privacy Commissioner, together with the Commissioner of the Personal Data Protection Commission of Singapore, Ms Denise WONG, co-hosted a roundtable discussion entitled “Agentic AI: Regulatory Implications and Emerging Risks” and engaged in candid exchanges with commissioners and representatives from privacy or data protection authorities attending the Forum. The discussion explored whether existing privacy protection frameworks are sufficient to address the evolving privacy risks posed by agentic AI, and highlighted key challenges faced by privacy regulators in the era of AI.
Major themes discussed at the 65th APPA Forum included:
The Forum also received work updates from various global privacy networks, including the following three privacy networks reporting to the APPA for the first time:
In the opening session, the Under Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs (USCMA), Mr Clement WOO Kin-man, MH, JP, delivered a congratulatory message. Mr Woo said, “Hong Kong is the first jurisdiction in Asia to establish a comprehensive personal data privacy law. We have maintained a high standard of enforcement to protect privacy all along, with the PCPD’s work recognised by both the general public and the international community. The Asia Pacific Privacy Authorities Forum serves as a much treasured platform in bringing together regulators in the region to exchange insights, devise common standards, advance best practices, and co-ordinate enforcement strategies to safeguard personal data privacy. The privacy risk can be sufficiently mitigated only through better alignment on regulatory and enforcement approaches.”
The Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data, Hong Kong (Privacy Commissioner), Ms Ada CHUNG Lai-ling, SBS, who chaired the Forum, said in her welcome address, “For the last three decades, APPA has given privacy or data protection authorities across the Asia–Pacific region a platform to connect, exchange views and share practical experiences with a shared mission in mind: building a trusted environment to safeguard personal data in the region. Against this backdrop, delegates come together for the 65th APPA Forum to engage in meaningful dialogue and exchange insights into safeguarding data privacy and addressing topical privacy issues.”
On the first day of the Forum, the Assistant Privacy Commissioner (Complaints and Criminal Investigation), Ms Rebecca HO Kan-yeuk, provided an update on the tremendous success of PCPD’s enforcement and promotional as well as educational efforts in combatting doxxing since the introduction of anti-doxxing provisions in the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance in October 2021.
On the second day of the Forum, the Privacy Commissioner, as co-chair of the International Enforcement Cooperation Working Group of the Global Privacy Assembly, reported on the work of the Working Group to the attendees. In addition, the Assistant Privacy Commissioner (Compliance, Global Affairs and Research), Mr Alex CHAN Chung-man, provided an overview of the PCPD’s guidance on “Abuse of AI Deepfakes: Toolkit for Schools and Parents” published in December 2025.
Following two expert presentations on key data protection and privacy risks associated with agentic artificial intelligence (AI) and the regulation of emerging AI technologies in China, the Privacy Commissioner, together with the Commissioner of the Personal Data Protection Commission of Singapore, Ms Denise WONG, co-hosted a roundtable discussion entitled “Agentic AI: Regulatory Implications and Emerging Risks” and engaged in candid exchanges with commissioners and representatives from privacy or data protection authorities attending the Forum. The discussion explored whether existing privacy protection frameworks are sufficient to address the evolving privacy risks posed by agentic AI, and highlighted key challenges faced by privacy regulators in the era of AI.
Major themes discussed at the 65th APPA Forum included:
- Legislative developments;
- Enforcement challenges;
- Data breaches;
- The governance of AI, including agentic AI, and other emerging technologies; and
- Children’s privacy.
The Forum also received work updates from various global privacy networks, including the following three privacy networks reporting to the APPA for the first time:
- The Lusophone Personal Data Protection Network, with an update presented by the Personal Data Protection Bureau of Macao, China;
- The British, Irish and Islands Data Protection Authorities, with an update presented by the Office of the Data Protection Authority of the Bailiwick of Guernsey; and
- The Network of African Data Protection Authorities, with an update presented by the National Data Protection Commission of Cabo Verde.
The USCMA, Mr Clement WOO Kin-man, MH, JP, delivered the congratulatory message.
The Privacy Commissioner, Ms Ada CHUNG Lai-ling, SBS, delivered the welcome address.
The Privacy Commissioner, Ms Ada CHUNG Lai-ling, SBS, chaired the Forum.
The USCMA, Mr Clement WOO Kin-man, MH, JP (middle), and the Privacy Commissioner, Ms Ada CHUNG Lai-ling, SBS (fifth left) took a picture with commissioners and senior representatives of delegations from other jurisdictions in the Asia-Pacific region.
The Privacy Commissioner, Ms Ada CHUNG Lai-ling, SBS (first row, middle) took a picture with participants of the 65th Asia Pacific Privacy Authorities Forum.
The Privacy Commissioner, Ms Ada CHUNG Lai-ling, SBS, delivered the welcome address.
The Privacy Commissioner, Ms Ada CHUNG Lai-ling, SBS, chaired the Forum.
The USCMA, Mr Clement WOO Kin-man, MH, JP (middle), and the Privacy Commissioner, Ms Ada CHUNG Lai-ling, SBS (fifth left) took a picture with commissioners and senior representatives of delegations from other jurisdictions in the Asia-Pacific region.
The Privacy Commissioner, Ms Ada CHUNG Lai-ling, SBS (first row, middle) took a picture with participants of the 65th Asia Pacific Privacy Authorities Forum.