The Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data has formulated proposals to prevent data leakage, Secretary for Constitutional & Mainland Affairs Stephen Lam says. The Government will study their feasibility before deciding the way forward.

Mr Lam today told lawmakers the proposals include creating a new offence involving people who knowingly or recklessly, without the consent of the data user, obtain or disclose or procure for such disclosure personal data held or leaked by the user, or sell or offer to sell the data so obtained.

"As these proposals will have far reaching implications on the IT industry, public and private organisations as well as the community as a whole, we will first have to discuss the feasibility of these proposals with the PCO and to consider whether there is sufficient justification for criminalising such actions, before deciding on the way forward."

The Government will also examine ways to further strengthen protection on personal data privacy with regard to the collection, holding, processing and use of personal data.