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violation of the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance' as the users of the Provisional Urban Council's recreational facilities have to display their tickets at a designated place, and this may give other people a chance to see the names and identity card numbers of the users. What method will be adopted by the Urban Services Department to avoid violation of the legislation? Besides, what improvement measures will be taken to implement the concrete proposals given in the consultation paper?
In fact, it is the Department's basic arrangement to request hirers of recreational facilities to produce their tickets. On the other hand, management staff of the venue will verify ticket holders' identity, facilities used and time, and return the tickets to them after 'Verified' stamped on. The measure mentioned by Ms. Grace Au Yuk-har is only implemented at some venues. This is because certain management staff think it is necessary to minimize the need for entering sporting grounds as that could lead to accidents as well as nuisance to members of the public doing exercise there. Since the enactment of the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance, the Department displays users' tickets at venues where consent of users has been obtained.
According to the Draft Code of Practice Personal Identifiers— Consultation Paper` Part I section 2.3. failure to observe the Code of Practice approved by the Commissioner does not constitute a violation of the legislation. However, this may be given as evidence for violation of the provision in legal proceedings handled by the magistracies, courts or Administrative Appeals Board, or in the cases handled by the Commissioner.
Since the practices mentioned by Ms. Au may not be in full compliance with the 'Code of Practice Personal Identifiers" to be enacted in future, the Urban Services Department has instructed the staff at recreational venues to handle the tickets in accordance with the standard instructions, and has also stopped the practice of requesting the hirers to display their tickets.
The 'Draft Code of Practice Personal Identifiers Consultation Paper' is now under public consultation. The Code will only take effect one year after the final version of the Code of Practice is approved by the Commissioner for Personal Data. Within this year's transitional period, the Urban Services Department will conduct a thorough review of the practices and procedures with reference to the final version of the Code of Practice and make any necessary changes.
The second part of the question enquires about the registration measures for visitors at the Secretariat of the Chambers. The existing measures are taken according to the Administration Select Committee's decision on 20.2.1995. Members of the public, including the Press. have to write down personal data such as their names, identity card numbers and attached organizations upon entering the Chambers. Currently, a register is used. Visitors will write down the relevant information at the reception counter with assistance from the staff there. Visitors are not allowed to read the personal data put down by other
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