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Surveys/ Study Reports

1998 Opinion Survey

Introduction

The Social Sciences Research Centre of the University of Hong Kong was commissioned by the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data (PCPD) in 1998 to conduct a follow-up opinion survey to the baseline survey it conducted for the PCPD in the previous year.

The objectives of the survey were to:

  • assess individuals' attitudes to personal data privacy issues and their experiences and awareness of the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance ("the Ordinance") and their readiness to make use of their rights under the Ordinance;
  • assess data users' attitudes towards, and the measures they have taken to implement, the requirements of the Ordinance, their policies and practices of personal data privacy and their awareness and expectations in relation to the role and functions of the PCPD.
  • Where appropriate, the report compared the survey findings with those of the baseline opinion survey conducted in 1997.

The survey comprised two parts. The first part was a telephone survey of 2032 individuals. The second part was a postal survey of data users from the public and private sectors, to which 434 organisations responded. Both parts of the survey were conducted mainly in March 1998.

Results of the survey of individuals indicated that in general, there had been an increase in privacy consciousness among the general public over the 12 months preceding the survey. The public had become more sensitive about disclosing their personal data and more ready to make use of their rights to access and correct personal data. Also, an increased number of people indicated that they would seek help from the PCPD in the event that they wished to make a complaint in relation to personal data privacy.

Results of the survey of organisations found that there was a general increase in efforts to comply with the requirements of the Ordinance in the 12 months preceding the survey. In addition, there was a significant increase in the percentage of organisations that considered the Ordinance has long term benefits for their operations.

The key findings of the survey are summarised in the following two sections.