Statement of Policy
The Buildings Department (BD) is concerned to ensure that all personal data submitted through the Thematic Website (Website) are handled in strict adherence to the relevant provisions of the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance (PD(P)O).
When we collect personal data from individuals, we will provide them with a Personal Information Collection Statement ("PICS") on or before the collection in an appropriate format and manner.
Statement of practice
A) Information Collected when Visiting the Thematic Website
The Website records only the login time and IP address of your last visit for enforcing the compliance with BD's security policies. Cookies and Javascript are deployed for providing stable online services to the users. Other than those personal data required for registration, the Website does not collect personal identifiable information of users or perform online behavioural tracking.
B) Provision of Personal Data
Kind of Personal Data Held
For different purposes and at different times you may be invited to provide personal data to the BD through the Website on a voluntary basis. Personal information may include name, group name, key contact name, telephone number, title, organization, mailing address or e-mail address. BD will specify the collection purpose and intended usage of your data when it invites you to provide such information and advise you how you may request access to or correction of the personal data provided.
Main Purposes of keeping Personal Data
Personal data relating to the application for inspection or issue of copy of specified document records are held mainly for the purpose of processing relevant applications.
Disclosure of Personal Data
Unless permitted or required by law, BD will not disclose your personal data to any third parties without your prior consent.
The Website uses strong encryption mechanism to protect your personal data during transmission over the network. All personal data you provide to BD via the Website are secured, and access to them is restricted to authorised personnel only.
C) Outsourcing arrangements
The BD thematic website is developed and maintained by a local third-party service provider, and is operated and administered by in-house staff. The third-party service provider does not have access to personal data stored in the IT system except when it is carrying out trouble-shooting on it at BD under the supervision of BD's staff. The third-party service providers are bound by contractual duty to keep confidential any data they come into contact with against unauthorised access, use and retention.
D) Protection measures
BD takes appropriate steps to protect the personal data held against loss, unauthorised access, use, modification or disclosure.
E) Retention
BD maintains and executes retention policies of records containing personal data to ensure personal data is not kept longer than is necessary for the fulfilment of the purpose for which the data is or is to be used. Different retention periods apply to the various kinds of personal data collected and held by BD in accordance with policies in standing instructions and administration manuals.
F) Data access and correction
You have the right of access and correction with respect to the personal data as provided under the PD(P)O. The BD has the right to charge a reasonable fee for the processing of any data access request. Request for personal data access and correction should be addressed to "Corporate Services Division, Technical Services Section, Structural Engineer/Public Education & Publicity 2 " at "14th floor, Buildings Department Headquarters, North Tower, West Kowloon Government Offices, 11 Hoi Ting Road, Yaumatei, Kowloon, Hong Kong".
G) Enquiries
Any enquiries regarding personal data privacy policy and practice may be addressed to the Departmental Secretary at “Buildings Department Headquarters, North Tower, West Kowloon Government Offices, 11 Hoi Ting Road, Yaumatei, Kowloon, Hong Kong”.
We keep our privacy policy statement under regular review. This statement was last updated on 6/12/2022.
If there is any inconsistency or ambiguity between the English version and the Chinese version, the English version shall prevail.