The Immigration Department today expressed regret over the Apple Daily’s untrue report on the department’s handling of applications for marriage records search.

It explained that the Office of the Ombudsman has been conducting an independent, unbiased, impartial and professional investigation.

Meanwhile, the department has all along been facilitating the investigation by the Ombudsman in an open, transparent and responsible manner, without any intent to mislead or withhold any information.

The department stressed that it attaches great importance to the recommendations made by the Ombudsman regardless of the complaints being substantiated or not.

It stated that it will proactively study practicable measures to implement such recommendations with a view to constantly enhancing its service quality to strive for excellence and introduce necessary measures to suit the situation.

The department emphasised that it has all along been handling such applications fairly and impartially in accordance with the established procedures and stipulations under the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance.

While respecting press freedom, the department added that it also attaches great importance to protecting personal data privacy, hence its staff members have been upholding high professional and ethical standards to assess each of the applications in a fair and impartial manner.

To tackle malicious doxxing, the department said it has the responsibility to assess the reasons behind the applications made by data requestors or searchers whom are not the data subject to prevent abuse or illegal use of the personal data in such records.

The department once again expressed deep regret concerning Apple Daily disregarding the Ombudsman’s concluded investigation and unscrupulously making unfounded accusations against the department to diminish its integrity and professionalism in the eyes of the public.