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Response to Media Enquiry or Report

Response to Media Enquiry or Report

Date: 14 July 2020

Response to media enquiry on personal data privacy issues relating to“Democrats 35+ Civil Voting” Project

Thank you very much for your enquiry about “Democrats 35+ Civil Voting” Project (the activity). Our response to your enquiry is as follows:

Enquiry
“During a press conference on Monday evening, Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor remarked that a "primary election" held over the weekend by the city's opposition political camp might have breached the privacy ordinance.

I would like to enquire:
  1. on what aspects the primary election could be in breach of which provision(s) of the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance
  2. whether the commissioner has received complaints about the primary election and, if so, how many and of what nature the complaints are
  3. whether the commissioner has initiated any follow-up actions”

Answer: Questions 1 & 2
  • On 7 July 2020, the office of Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data (the office) received the first communication relating to the activity.  As of today (14 July) 5:00pm, the office received 6 communications in total.
  • In these communications, some claimed that there was excessive collection of personal data and some claimed that there might be misuse of personal data. 
Answer: Question 3
  • The office is following up on these communications in accordance with the PDPO and established procedures.  Bound by the secrecy requirement of section 46 under the PDPO, we are unable to disclose further details.