The Hong Kong Free Press reports on former triad member Chan Chi-cheung’s attempts to reintegrate into society following a 38-year prison sentence, and how the availability of criminal records make it difficult for former criminals to return to regular living. Society for Community Organization’s Ng Wai-tung believes Hong Kong’s privacy laws need to be revamped to greater protect convicts from the disclosure of criminal records to employers. The Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance’s only requirement is to observe general principles of data collection “directly related to its function or activity,” but there are no set rules for interpreting the principles. “Hong Kong’s privacy law is very backward,” Wai-tung said. “The government said it supports the employment of ex-convicts, but it hasn’t taken any action to improve the situation for them.”
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