Data Governance in Hong Kong

Data hk is the practice of gathering and analysing information to gain insights into customer behavior, market trends or potential issues. This information may then be used to improve products and services, or inform business decision making by businesses and governments. It can also be collected for statistical purposes and reported to government agencies, or combined with primary data for use in policy formation.

As the world becomes increasingly connected and digital, it’s critical that data hk is protected. Equinix provides industry-leading data centers in Hong Kong, connecting customers into a rich network ecosystem that is strategically located in one of the world’s most carrier-dense network hubs. Our Hong Kong colocation facilities are home to a wide range of enterprises, networks, IT and cloud service providers, and offer a variety of interconnection options to meet your data center needs.

Under current statutory and common law in Hong Kong, personal data includes any information that can be linked back to an identifiable individual, such as an individual’s name, telephone number or email address. The Personal Data Protection Ordinance (“PDPO”) stipulates that data users must notify individuals of the purpose for which their personal data is collected, and where necessary, provide them with an opportunity to withdraw their consent before the collection takes place. Additionally, data users cannot transfer personal data outside Hong Kong without conducting a personal data impact assessment (“PIA”) or obtaining a permit from the data protection authorities.

A recent discussion paper published by the Hong Kong government explored changes to PDPO, including a possible change to the definition of personal data. This seemingly small change would require that the information must concern an ‘identifiable’ person rather than just an ‘identified’ person, which could have a significant effect on the kinds of data that are covered by the law.

In light of the above, it is important that companies build an effective governance program with the right people in place. These individuals must be able to understand how the framework affects their organization’s business processes and decisions. The best data governance stewards are often senior business analysts who can act as communication bridges between business and IT. They should be familiar with IT architecture and data modeling tools, and have experience with both the technical and business aspects of data governance.