XN000022-1983-05-11 — Page 3

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 11, 1983

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COMPUTER DATA PROTECTION TO BE STUDIED

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IT IS NOW OPPORTUNE TO FORM AN AD HOC WORKING GROUP TO EXAMINE IN DETAIL WHETHER LEGISLATION IS REQUIRED IN HONG KONG TO PROTECT PERSONAL DATA STORED IN COMPUTERS, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, THE HON SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

THE GROUP WOULD BE CHAIRED BY THE DIRECTOR, COUNCILS AND ADMINISTRATION BRANCH, SIR PHILIP SAID, IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON CHEUNG YAN-LUNG ON THE ISSUE OF CONFIDENTIALITY OF COMPUTER DATA.

THIS ISSUE WAS OF IMPORTANCE AND CONCERN TO ALL WHO HAD PERSONAL DATA STORED IN COMPUTERS, SIR PHILIP SAID.

+BUT IT RELATES TO A PROBLEM WHICH IS NOT EASY TO RESOLVE GIVEN THE NEED TO BALANCE, ON THE ONE HAND, WHAT IS, THESE DAYS A CLEAR NEED FOR ELECTRONIC DATA PROCESSING AND, ON THE OTHER, THE RIGHTS OF THE INDIVIDUAL TO PROTECTION AGAINST THE UNWARRANTED DISCLOSURE OF HIS AFFAIRS TO OTHERS.

+NEVERTHELESS, THE POLITICAL, ADMINISTRATIVE AND LEGAL DIFFICULTIES NOTWITHSTANDING, SEVERAL COUNTRIES NOW HAVE DATA PROTECTION LEGISLATION IN FORCE WHILE OTHERS ARE CONTEMPLATING DOING SO AND THE GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN MONITORING EXPERIENCE ELSEWHERE, PARTICULARLY IN BRITAIN WHERE A DATA PROTECTION BILL IS UNDER DISCUSSION,+ SIR PHILIP SAID.

THE DECISION TO SET UP A WORKING GROUP WAS THE RESULT OF THIS MONITORING ACTIVITY, HE EXPLAINED.

HE EXPRESSED THE HOPE THAT THE FINDINGS OF THE WORKING GROUP WOULD ENABLE THE GOVERNMENT TO TAKE A VIEW ON WHETHER LEGISLATION WAS REQUIRED AND WHAT IT SHOULD CONTAIN.

SIR PHILIP DISCLOSED THAT THE LAW REFORM COMMISSION INTENDED TO SET UP A SUB-COMMITTEE TO LOOK AT THE BROADER LEGAL ISSUES OF PRIVACY PROTECTION GENERALLY.

THIS WOULD INCLUDE THE PROTECTION NOT ONLY OF PERSONAL COMPUTER DATA BUT ALSO OF OTHER FORMS OF INTERFERENCE WITH PRIVACY OF A WIDE VARIETY, HE ADDED.

+NEEDLESS TO SAY, THE AD HOC WORKING GROUP WILL SEEK TO DEVELOP A CLOSE LIAISON WITH THE LAW REFORM COMMISSION'S SUB-COMMITTEE,+ SIR PHILIP SAID.

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