In response to the press conference and the press release by the Hong Kong Journalists Association this afternoon (September 13), which mentioned that reporters started to receive anonymous messages ever since Customs officers conducted search on their baggage during arrival clearance, suspecting that leakage of personal data was involved. Hong Kong Customs issued the following clarification:
Customs has all along applied risk assessment and intelligence analysis to select passengers, cargoes, postal packets and conveyances for checks and clearance, and worked closely with relevant departments through intelligence exchanges and joint enforcement actions to combat smuggling of contrabands, activities of conveying or bringing controlled articles into and out of Hong Kong illegally.
Customs officers will not collect passengers' personal mobile phone numbers during custom clearance.
Customs attaches great importance to protecting personal data privacy. The department shall endeavour to ensure the collection, use, retention, transfer and access of personal data in operations, investigations and services be executed in accordance with the requirements of the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance, and that all officers must strictly follow the relevant regulations.
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