Hong Kong community centre contractor loses USB with names, numbers of 306 residents
Staff member handling bookings for community hall in Sai Ying Pun lost thumb drive with applicants’ personal data and event dates, times
A contractor working for a government community centre has lost a USB flash drive containing the names and contact information of more than 300 Hongkongers.
The Central and Western District Office under the Home Affairs Department said on Monday night the incident had been reported to police and the privacy watchdog, adding that no identity card numbers had been exposed.
According to the office, a Synergis Facility Management staff member responsible for handling bookings for the Sai Ying Pun Community Hall lost the portable device on Saturday.
The device contains personal details – names, contact numbers, and the dates and times of events – of 306 applicants.
“We are contacting all the affected applicants to offer apologies and explain the incident,” the office said, adding that a hotline had been set up for inquiries.
The department accompanied the contractor in reporting the incident to police and the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data.
