The Customs & Excise Department today said it attaches great importance to protecting personal data privacy and its officers will not collect passengers' personal mobile phone numbers during customs clearance.

The department made the statement in response to a press conference and press release by the Hong Kong Journalists Association today which mentioned that reporters started to receive anonymous messages ever since customs officers conducted searches on their baggage during arrival clearance, suspecting that a leakage of personal data was involved.

Customs stressed that it has all along applied risk assessment and intelligence analysis to select passengers, cargo, postal packets and conveyances for checks and clearance, and worked closely with relevant departments through intelligence exchanges and joint enforcement actions to combat the smuggling of contraband, and activities of conveying or bringing controlled articles into and out of Hong Kong illegally.

The department added that it shall endeavour to ensure the collection, use, retention, transfer and access of personal data in operations, investigations and services is executed in accordance with the requirements of the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance, and all officers must strictly follow the relevant regulations.