Hong Kong land registry reforms protect privacy and prevent misuse, says privacy commissioner
Hong Kong's privacy commissioner says new land registry rules clarify access purposes, protect property owners' privacy, and help users avoid legal pitfalls. The reforms list nine specific purposes for searches, addressing a rise in complaints about data misuse.
Hong Kong's Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data, Chung Lai-ling, has said new regulations on the land ownership registration system will clarify access rules, better protect property owners' privacy, and help those conducting searches avoid breaking the law. The government last month announced eight pieces of subsidiary legislation under the new system, which requires searches to meet one of nine specified purposes.
Speaking on RTHK's Millennium programme on 6 November, Chung said the new arrangements create a clear framework. From a privacy perspective, she said, they better protect owners' personal data, make it easier for authorities to handle search requests, and reduce the risk of searchers inadvertently committing offences. She described this as a win-win-win outcome.
The nine specified purposes include property transactions and land or property valuations. Chung said these are specific and clear, enabling searchers to know exactly why they are requesting information and ensuring they use the data only for that purpose. She warned against misuse of the data obtained.
Over the past five years, Chung said, the Privacy Commissioner's Office received 20 complaints about alleged misuse of land registry data. These included cases where information was used to “dox” property owners by posting their details on social media, and others where owners received promotional mail after their data was accessed. The office received six such complaints this year alone, which Chung said suggested the problem was worsening.
Under Section 61 of Hong Kong's Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance, the use of personal data for journalistic activities is exempt, provided it serves the public interest. Chung noted that the new search rules also include a purpose of serving the public interest, meaning both regimes require a public-interest justification.