TNAG-0693-FCO40-843-Study-of-computerisation-of-personal-data-and-threat-to-priv-1977 — Page 36

A S Jordan Esq

The Secretary

Data Protection Committee

Keysign House

421-429 Oxford Street LONDON W1

Pl. a ter + bly Auley 23/6

233 5179

HKK 413/1

17 June 1977

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kuj.

1.

Mr Lightbody, the Secretary for Administration in the Hong Kong Government, is visiting the UK in late August and September in connection with a study on the computerisation of personnel information available to government departments.

2.

He has asked me a number of questions, which perhaps I might direct to you. For example, he is wondering whether the Data Protection Committee have produced any recommendations yet on legislation and machinery.

3. In addition, he would like information on the administrative advantages and practical difficulties in such a system. In conclusion, he asks for details of publications, which might help in his study. I have already undertaken to send to him copies of the Younger Report on Privacy (Command 5012); the Review of Governmental Computer Systems (Command 6354); and Computers and Privacy (Command 6353).

4.

I understand that the Committee have not yet produced any formal recommendations but perhaps you might let me have an interim or an informal view to send to Mr Lightbody, together with the Committee's thoughts on the advantages and disadvantages of such a system. Finally, if you know of any other publications or articles which might be of use to Mr Lightbody, please let me know.

M J Upton

Hong Kong & General Department