The New Personal Data Retention Requirement in Hong Kong

Currently, a number of organisations in Hong Kong collect personal data. Some of them are regulated as data users under the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance (PDPO). PDPO requires that they have a clear policy specifying the retention period for the personal data they collect. The government is considering whether to strengthen this requirement by expressly requiring that data users clearly state the retention period to the individual whose data they are collecting.

In this article, we explore the context behind this proposal and the impact on businesses in Hong Kong. We also provide some tips to help companies comply with the current law and prepare for the new requirements.

SmarTone has a prepaid 3G/4G SIM for use in Hong Kong with both prepaid and postpaid packages. Their HK$ 48 starter has a full day of roaming data (until midnight local time) and is the most affordable in their lineup. It comes with a prepaid SIM card and HK$ 38 credit. Top-ups can be made online or via voucher sold at csl. shops, 7-Eleven, 1O1O, and Van Go or Circle K kiosks. The prepaid SIM supports roaming data only, no voice or SMS.

Tethering is not allowed on their prepaid plans, but it’s possible to use Facetime or VoIP calls with the HK$ 28 plan and above. The prepaid Lite Unlimited Data Package – which is available only with the SIM card purchased in Hong Kong – has a FUP of 1 GB per day and is throttled to 384 kbps beyond that. It’s a cheaper option than their other unlimited data packages for the mainland and Macau.

The MVNO Multibyte Info Group has a Hong Kong MVNO license and operates on the Three HK and China Mobile HK networks. Their prepaid SIM cards are sold at certain Indonesian grocery stores in Hong Kong and can be bought in their online shop. They offer several 4G packages, including a HK$ 88 30-day plan that isn’t subject to speed throttling, but is only valid in Hong Kong and Macau.

Besides data packages, the company also offers an Indonesia-Hong Kong prepaid SIM card with unlimited data and a free call and text add-on that’s only available to Indonesian citizens. This SIM can be used in Hong Kong and the rest of Asia, but it’s only suitable for Indonesian citizens or those who have a work permit to live in Hong Kong.

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