XN000022-1992-05-13 — Page 16

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 1992

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—

THE FIGURES FOR HONG KONG AND SOME THAILAND 13.4%; REPUBLIC OF KOREA SINGAPORE 22.3%; AND MALAYSIA - 29.7%.

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15.9%;

ASIAN COUNTRIES ARE:

HONG KONG

16.4%;

"HOWEVER, THESE FIGURES DO NOT NECESSARILY ENABLE A COMPARISON TO BE MADE BETWEEN THE RELATIVE EFFICIENCY OF THE ADMINISTRATIONS," SAID MR WIGGHAM.

"ADMINISTRATIONS DIFFER, AMONG OTHER THINGS, IN THE SCOPE OF

THEIR ACTIVITIES AND SERVICES, AND CONSTITUTIONAL SYSTEMS.

"FOR EXAMPLE, IN JAPAN, PUBLIC EMPLOYEES INCLUDE THE SELF- DEFENSE FORCE AND EMPLOYEES OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS. THESE PERSONNEL AND SERVICES, AND THE VARIOUS LEVELS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS HAVE NO EQUIVALENTS IN HONG KONG.

"THERE IS THEREFORE NO COMMON BASIS FOR MEANINGFUL COMPARISON, HE ADDED.

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GOVT EXAMINING LAW OF PRIVACY

THE GOVERNMENT IS AWARE THAT THE BILL OF RIGHTS ORDINANCE MAY HAVE IMPLICATIONS FOR THE COLLECTION OF INFORMATION CONCERNING MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, THE SECRETARY FOR CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS, MR MICHAEL SZE, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON HENRY TANG, THE SECRETARY SAID THE LAW REFORM COMMISSION WAS EXAMINING EXISTING HONG KONG LAW RELATING TO PRIVACY IN GENERAL.

IN PARTICULAR, IT WOULD REPORT ON WHETHER LEGISLATIVE OR OTHER MEASURES WERE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE PROTECTION AGAINST, AND то PROVIDE REMEDIES IN RESPECT OF UNDUE INTERFERENCE WITH THE PRIVACY OF THE INDIVIDUAL, INCLUDING MATTERS CONCERNING THE ACQUISITION, COLLECTION, RECORDING AND STORAGE OF INFORMATION AND OPINIONS PERTAINING TO INDIVIDUALS BY ANY PERSONS OR BODIES, HE SAID.

A COMPREHENSIVE REPORT ON THE ISSUES BY A SUB-COMMITTEE OF THE LAW REFORM COMMISSION WOULD BE RELEASED FOR PUBLIC CONSULTATION COMMENTS IN A FEW MONTHS' TIME.

AND

MEANWHILE, MR SZE SAID A GOVERNMENT WORKING GROUP UNDER THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS WAS STUDY ING THE APPROPRIATE APPROACH TO BE ADOPTED FOR DATA PROTECTION, AND WOULD HAVE REGARD TO THE FINDINGS OF THE LAW REFORM COMMISSION IN ITS DELIBERATION.

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