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THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 1994
ΤΟ COUNTER THESE PROBLEMS, INTERNATIONAL AGENCIES SUCH AS THE ORGANISATION FOR ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT AND THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES COMMISSION HAVE FORMULATED A SET OF STANDARDS TO PROTECT PERSONAL DATA.
IN ESSENCE, THESE STANDARDS AMOUNT TO A CODE OF FAIR INFORMATION PRACTICES INTENDED TO ENSURE THAT THE RIGHT INFORMATION IS PROVIDED TO THE RIGHT PERSON FOR THE RIGHT PURPOSES.
ALREADY 27 JURISDICTIONS HAVE ENACTED LEGISLATION ΤΟ LEGALLY ENFORCE THESE STANDARDS.
THE COMMISSION HAS RECOMMENDED THAT HONG KONG JOINS THEIR RANKS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE IN ORDER TO PROVIDE INDIVIDUALS WITH ADEQUATE LEGAL PROTECTION IN RELATION TO COLLECTION AND USE OF DATA ABOUT THEM, AND TO ENSURE THAT HONG KONG IS NOT SHUT OUT OF THE INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE OF PERSONAL DATA.
THE COMMISSION SAYS THAT EXISTING LEGAL CONTROLS ARE LIMITED.
THE HONG KONG BILL OF RIGHTS ORDINANCE PROVIDES SOME PROTECTION AGAINST PUBLIC SECTOR INFRINGEMENTS AND SOME ORDINANCES CONTAIN SECRECY PROVISIONS.
SOME PROTECTION IS ALSO PROVIDED BY THE COMMON LAW DUTY OF CONFIDENCE, BUT THERE IS AT PRESENT NO COMPREHENSIVE LEGAL PROTECTION.
IT IS EXPECTED THAT FROM 1996 THE EUROPEAN UNION WILL REQUIRE MEMBER STATES ΤΟ CONTROL THE TRANSFER OF PERSONAL DATA TO COUNTRIES LACKING ADEQUATE LEGAL PROTECTION ON ITS USE.
ITS
THE COMMISSION ARGUES THAT IF HONG KONG DOES NOT INTRODUCE NECESSARY LEGISLATION, THE TERRITORY'S STATUS AS AN TRADING CENTRE COULD BE AFFECTED.
THE
INTERNATIONAL
THE COMMISSION'S REPORT WILL BE PASSED TO THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS FOR CONSIDERATION WITH A VIEW TO IMPLEMENTATION.
GOVT WELCOMES LRC REPORT ON DATA PROTECTION
* * *
TODAY {THURSDAY) WELCOMED
THE
ON THE PROTECTION
GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN
PUBLICATION OF THE LAW REFORM COMMISSION'S REPORT OF PERSONAL DATA.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE GOVERNMENT WOULD EXAMINE THE REPORT CAREFULLY OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS BEFORE DECIDING ON THE BEST WAY FORWARD FOR DATA PROTECTION LEGISLATION IN HONG KONG.
HE PAID TRIBUTE TO THE LAW REFORM COMMISSION FOR ITS DILIGENCE AND THOROUGHNESS IN PRODUCING A SUBSTANTIAL AND DETAILED REPORT THAT IS FIRMLY BASED ON AN EXTENSIVE PUBLIC CONSULTATION EXERCISE.
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