Data of 17,000 public housing tenants leaked

The data of around 17,000 people who were required to undergo Covid tests at the peak of the pandemic has been exposed online, the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) has warned. In a statement issued late on Thursday, the department said names, phone numbers, identity card numbers and addresses of residents were collected during lockdown operations between March and July in 2022. The information was stored on an online server accessible to authorised staff using a password. But on April 30 this year, EMSD was told by the city's privacy watchdog that some information was accessible without the need for a password. Residents of 14 public housing blocks are affected including those living in Yan Ching House of Kai Ching Estate in Kai Tak, Oi Ming House of Yau Oi Estate in Tuen Mun and Fu Leung House of Fu Cheong Estate in Sham Shui Po. The Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data said it will launch an investigation but has not received any complaints so far. "We think the situation is serious. We will initiate an investigation according to our normal procedures. We also suggest that the relevant department inform the affected individuals as soon as possible, given the relatively large number of people impacted," Privacy Commissioner Ada Chung told an RTHK programme. EMSD apologised for the incident, adding that it will notify the households affected by mail and "there is no evidence that relevant data has been published so far". The matter has been reported to the police, the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer and the Security Bureau.