Privacy commissioner Ada Chung expressed support on Friday for government moves to tighten land record search arrangements, while raising concerns that misuse of land registry data may be getting worse.

Her comments come as the government tabled eight pieces of subsidiary legislation in the Legislative Council for the changes.

Under the new arrangements, land searches must meet one of nine specified purposes.

Speaking on RTHK, Chung said the purposes – which could be part of property deals and valuations – had to be concrete and clear so searchers would stick to declarations of their intended use of the data and not stray into potentially misusing it.

She said her office had received 20 complaints in five years about alleged misuse of land registry data, which included instances where owners were doxxed on social media, and the sending of promotional mail.

Six complaints came this year alone, Chung pointed out.

"We've seen cases where land registry data was used for ... other purposes such as cyberbullying and doxxing. Not a single case of that kind should happen, and we've already had six this year, so the trend is worsening," she said.

Chung said the new rules on land searches make the system clearer, better protect owners' privacy, and help people to avoid breaking the law.

She noted that the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance's exemption for journalistic activities also requires a public-interest basis, matching the purpose of the new arrangements.


Edited by Aaron Tam