Media Statements
Privacy Commissioner Promotes China’s Initiative at Asia DPA Exchange Joining Hands to Build a Global AI Governance System
Date: 23 July 2026
Privacy Commissioner Promotes China’s Initiative
The Privacy Commissioner, Ms Ada CHUNG Lai-ling (right), promoted China’s Global AI Governance Initiative during a panel discussion at the Asia DPA Exchange of the Singapore Data Festival.
The Privacy Commissioner, Ms Ada CHUNG Lai-ling (centre), spoke as a panellist at a panel discussion at the IAPP Asia Forum 2026.
The Privacy Commissioner, Ms Ada CHUNG Lai-ling (right) and the Chief Executive of the Singapore Academy of Law, Mr YEONG Zee-Kin (left), signed a MoU.
The Privacy Commissioner, Ms Ada CHUNG Lai-ling (right), met with the Chief Executive of the Authority for Info-communications Technology Industry of Brunei Darussalam, Mr Haji Jailani bin HAJI BUNTAR (left).
The Privacy Commissioner, Ms Ada CHUNG Lai-ling (right), met with the Chairperson of the Personal Data Protection Committee, Mr Thienchai NA NAKORN (left).
Privacy Commissioner Promotes China’s Initiative
at Asia DPA Exchange
Joining Hands to Build a Global AI Governance System
The Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data (Privacy Commissioner), Ms Ada CHUNG Lai-ling, attended the Singapore Data Festival (Data Festival) and Asia Data Protection Authorities (DPA) Exchange, organised by Singapore’s Infocomm Media Development Authority and Personal Data Protection Commission in Singapore from 20 to 22 July 2026.
On 21 July, the Privacy Commissioner attended the Asia DPA Exchange and joined the Commissioner of Singapore’s Personal Data Protection Commission in a panel discussion titled “Governing Personal Data in the Age of Gen AI”. During the discussion, the Privacy Commissioner pointed out that at the World AI Conference 2026 recently held in Shanghai, China advocated that all countries should adopt a people-centred approach, develop artificial intelligence (AI) for the positive and for good, and join hands to build a just and equitable system for global AI governance. The Privacy Commissioner underscored the significance of the initiative to participants, and highlighted the three-C (facilitating Compliance, Communication and Collaboration) multi-pronged strategy adopted by the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data (PCPD) to assist organisations in adopting AI technologies in a safe and responsible manner, thereby supporting Hong Kong’s development as an international innovation and technology centre.
During the Data Festival, the Privacy Commissioner also attended the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) Asia Forum 2026 organised by the IAPP on 22 July. She joined commissioners from regulators in the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand in a panel discussion titled “How Asian Regulators are Shaping AI and Data Governance”. The Privacy Commissioner shared insights and experience gained from three rounds of compliance checks relating to AI conducted by the PCPD since 2023. She also introduced the award-winning AI guidance materials issued by the PCPD, including the “Artificial Intelligence: Model Personal Data Protection Framework” and the “Checklist on Guidelines for the Use of Generative AI by Employees”, which assist organisations in adopting AI technologies in a safe, responsible and privacy-friendly manner, and in establishing effective AI governance and risk management framework.
In addition, the PCPD and the Hong Kong International Data Privacy Academy signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Singapore Academy of Law and the Asian Business Law Institute in Singapore on 22 July to further deepen their partnership. The MoU seeks to leverage the unique roles of Hong Kong and Singapore as gateways to China and ASEAN countries respectively to strengthen knowledge exchange and collaboration among legal professionals, businesses and other stakeholders in the respective countries, thereby promoting exchanges and cooperation between enterprises in China and those in ASEAN countries.
The Privacy Commissioner said, “This is the first MoU signed by the Hong Kong International Data Privacy Academy since its establishment in June 2026. The collaboration enables the PCPD and the Academy to leverage Hong Kong’s unique advantages of enjoying strong support from the Motherland while being closely connected with the world. With Hong Kong serving as a bridge, the collaboration will enhance understanding and knowledge among ASEAN countries of the data regulatory frameworks in Hong Kong and the Country, while also providing a platform for stakeholders from Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland to deepen their understanding of the regulatory regimes in Singapore and other ASEAN countries. This further reinforces Hong Kong’s unique role as a ‘super connector’ and a ‘super value-adder’ to proactively integrate into and serve the Country’s overall development strategy.”
The Chief Executive of the Singapore Academy of Law, Mr YEONG Zee-kin, said, “This MoU reflects our shared commitment to helping businesses navigate the opportunities and responsibilities arising from technological advances, alongside related legal and regulatory developments across Greater China and Southeast Asia. We look forward to working together to build capability and advance practical dialogue on personal data protection, AI governance and evolving legal and regulatory landscape. Through this collaboration, we seek to bring together regulators, practitioners, businesses and academia to develop useful resources and learning opportunities that give organisations greater confidence as they operate across borders in the digital economy.”
During the Data Festival, the Privacy Commissioner also met or held bilateral meetings with government officials of Singapore and representatives of privacy or data protection authorities of ASEAN countries, including the Chief Executive of the Authority for Info-communications Technology Industry of Brunei Darussalam and the Chairperson of the Personal Data Protection Committee of Thailand. The meetings covered a range of topics, including personal data protection, AI governance, and served to strengthen ties between the PCPD and data protection authorities in other jurisdictions. Furthermore, the Privacy Commissioner met with industry leaders, including representatives of technology companies such as Meta, to learn about the latest international developments in the privacy landscape and industry practices.
On 21 July, the Privacy Commissioner attended the Asia DPA Exchange and joined the Commissioner of Singapore’s Personal Data Protection Commission in a panel discussion titled “Governing Personal Data in the Age of Gen AI”. During the discussion, the Privacy Commissioner pointed out that at the World AI Conference 2026 recently held in Shanghai, China advocated that all countries should adopt a people-centred approach, develop artificial intelligence (AI) for the positive and for good, and join hands to build a just and equitable system for global AI governance. The Privacy Commissioner underscored the significance of the initiative to participants, and highlighted the three-C (facilitating Compliance, Communication and Collaboration) multi-pronged strategy adopted by the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data (PCPD) to assist organisations in adopting AI technologies in a safe and responsible manner, thereby supporting Hong Kong’s development as an international innovation and technology centre.
During the Data Festival, the Privacy Commissioner also attended the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) Asia Forum 2026 organised by the IAPP on 22 July. She joined commissioners from regulators in the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand in a panel discussion titled “How Asian Regulators are Shaping AI and Data Governance”. The Privacy Commissioner shared insights and experience gained from three rounds of compliance checks relating to AI conducted by the PCPD since 2023. She also introduced the award-winning AI guidance materials issued by the PCPD, including the “Artificial Intelligence: Model Personal Data Protection Framework” and the “Checklist on Guidelines for the Use of Generative AI by Employees”, which assist organisations in adopting AI technologies in a safe, responsible and privacy-friendly manner, and in establishing effective AI governance and risk management framework.
In addition, the PCPD and the Hong Kong International Data Privacy Academy signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Singapore Academy of Law and the Asian Business Law Institute in Singapore on 22 July to further deepen their partnership. The MoU seeks to leverage the unique roles of Hong Kong and Singapore as gateways to China and ASEAN countries respectively to strengthen knowledge exchange and collaboration among legal professionals, businesses and other stakeholders in the respective countries, thereby promoting exchanges and cooperation between enterprises in China and those in ASEAN countries.
The Privacy Commissioner said, “This is the first MoU signed by the Hong Kong International Data Privacy Academy since its establishment in June 2026. The collaboration enables the PCPD and the Academy to leverage Hong Kong’s unique advantages of enjoying strong support from the Motherland while being closely connected with the world. With Hong Kong serving as a bridge, the collaboration will enhance understanding and knowledge among ASEAN countries of the data regulatory frameworks in Hong Kong and the Country, while also providing a platform for stakeholders from Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland to deepen their understanding of the regulatory regimes in Singapore and other ASEAN countries. This further reinforces Hong Kong’s unique role as a ‘super connector’ and a ‘super value-adder’ to proactively integrate into and serve the Country’s overall development strategy.”
The Chief Executive of the Singapore Academy of Law, Mr YEONG Zee-kin, said, “This MoU reflects our shared commitment to helping businesses navigate the opportunities and responsibilities arising from technological advances, alongside related legal and regulatory developments across Greater China and Southeast Asia. We look forward to working together to build capability and advance practical dialogue on personal data protection, AI governance and evolving legal and regulatory landscape. Through this collaboration, we seek to bring together regulators, practitioners, businesses and academia to develop useful resources and learning opportunities that give organisations greater confidence as they operate across borders in the digital economy.”
During the Data Festival, the Privacy Commissioner also met or held bilateral meetings with government officials of Singapore and representatives of privacy or data protection authorities of ASEAN countries, including the Chief Executive of the Authority for Info-communications Technology Industry of Brunei Darussalam and the Chairperson of the Personal Data Protection Committee of Thailand. The meetings covered a range of topics, including personal data protection, AI governance, and served to strengthen ties between the PCPD and data protection authorities in other jurisdictions. Furthermore, the Privacy Commissioner met with industry leaders, including representatives of technology companies such as Meta, to learn about the latest international developments in the privacy landscape and industry practices.
The Privacy Commissioner, Ms Ada CHUNG Lai-ling (right), promoted China’s Global AI Governance Initiative during a panel discussion at the Asia DPA Exchange of the Singapore Data Festival.
The Privacy Commissioner, Ms Ada CHUNG Lai-ling (centre), spoke as a panellist at a panel discussion at the IAPP Asia Forum 2026.
The Privacy Commissioner, Ms Ada CHUNG Lai-ling (right) and the Chief Executive of the Singapore Academy of Law, Mr YEONG Zee-Kin (left), signed a MoU.
The Privacy Commissioner, Ms Ada CHUNG Lai-ling (right), met with the Chief Executive of the Authority for Info-communications Technology Industry of Brunei Darussalam, Mr Haji Jailani bin HAJI BUNTAR (left).
The Privacy Commissioner, Ms Ada CHUNG Lai-ling (right), met with the Chairperson of the Personal Data Protection Committee, Mr Thienchai NA NAKORN (left).