XN000022-1997-03-05 — Page 35

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(b)

5.

6.

Setting up a telephone hotline;

Promoting the rights to privacy in relation to personal data through newspaper, radio and civic education exhibitions.

There are two approaches in helping various industries and organisations comply with the Ordinance.

First, to prepare guidance note to data users. In addition to reprinting the two data user guides issued by the Home Affairs Branch, the Office has produced a new one. A total of about 150,000 copies of the three data user guides have been distributed. The Office, in conjunction with the Radio Television Hong Kong, has also produced a short bilingual video to be used as basic teaching materials. The video is now on sale for $80. So far more than 250 packages have been sold.

On the other hand, the Office has made direct contact with about 40 organisations and provided guidance on the preparation of internal guidelines for compliance with the Ordinance. The Office has sent representatives to attend some 50 seminars and talks so as to answer questions on compliance with the Ordinance.

(c) From 20.12.1996 to the end of February 1997, a total of 39 complaints were received, some of which covered more than one subject, thus effectively giving a total of 45 complaints. Most of them related to the use of data, without the data subjects' consent, for purposes not related to the purposes for which they were collected (25 complaints) or inadequate protection of data (10 complaints).

During the said period, some 1,700 enquiries were received. Half of them were about compliance with the Ordinance, including enquiries on whether specific cases amounted to infringement of the rights to privacy. However, we do not know the number of enquiries related to such specific cases since the Office has not further classified the enquiries into different categories.

Bearing in mind that an inquirer may give a one-sided account only, the Office cannot give a definite answer. Unless a full picture of the case is available through contacts with other data subjects and users, the Office cannot and should not provide any definite answer to any enquiry.

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