A batch of clinical investigation reports containing personal information on 300 patients has been accidentally classified as domestic waste and disposed of by a cleaner at Tseung Kwan O Hospital.

The hospital today apologised to patients, saying the chance of data leakage is low.

Its Specialist Out-patient Department noticed Medical Out-patient Clinic reports had not been returned after screening by doctors on June 5. They contain information like a patient's name, sex, age, date of birth, identity number and investigation results.

The hospital said the cleaner put the reports into a tied garbage bag which was collected and sent to landfills by the Food & Environmental Hygiene Department.

Doctors have re-screened the reports from computer records and confirmed no patient's treatment has been affected by the mishap.

The incident has been reported to Police, the Hospital Authority and the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data. The hospital will inform the patients and improve the workflow for handling investigation reports.