Data hk is an abbreviation of Hong Kong, a former British colony and current special administrative region of the People’s Republic of China. A city of high-rise skyscrapers, Hong Kong is also home to some of the world’s most advanced technology companies, and its economy relies heavily on information technology (IT).
This article discusses key privacy regulations imposed on personal data transfers in Hong Kong. It outlines how these regulations differ from the regulatory framework of GDPR, which has a significant impact on international business. It also highlights some of the practical steps that can be taken to ensure efficient compliance with these regulations, and to reduce business risk and cost.
A key consideration is the definition of “personal data.” The PDPO defines this as information that concerns an identifiable individual. As a result, this definition is much broader than the corresponding definition in GDPR. As a consequence, the PDPO places far more stringent requirements on data users when it comes to complying with its six DPPs.
In addition, the PDPO requires a data user to expressly notify a data subject of the purposes for which his personal data will be used, and of the classes of persons to whom it may be transferred. This notification requirement is a significant difference from that in GDPR, since transfer is a form of data use.
A further difference between HK’s regulations and GDPR is that the PDPO does not include any provisions conferring extra-territorial application. Rather, its territorial jurisdiction is determined by whether the data user controls all or any part of its operations in or from Hong Kong. This distinction is important because it determines which data subjects are subject to the PDPO’s restrictions and obligations.
It is possible that the PDPO might move closer to GDPR’s definition of personal data in the future. This could have significant implications for businesses that operate in the territory, and would impose additional compliance measures on these companies. As such, any business that operates in the territory should pay close attention to developments regarding the PDPO.
Having the right people in place to manage data governance can greatly reduce business risk and costs. A strong data governance team includes a blend of business and IT subject matter experts. Business stewards are critical, as they act as communication bridges between the business and IT, and are responsible for translating how a company’s data governance framework impacts its business processes and decisions. Senior IT architects and data and enterprise analysts are often good candidates for this role. In addition, a data governance leader coordinates tasks for stewards and drives ongoing data audits and metrics that measure program success and ROI. This person typically serves as the primary point of escalation to the data governance steering committee.