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A health questionnaire requiring students at the University of Hong Kong to disclose their HIV status and details of their sex lives breaches personal privacy laws, a human rights specialist has warned.

Making completion of the form an entry prerequisite contravened the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance, Hong Kong Human Rights Monitor director Law Yuk-kai said yesterday.

'You have to give people the choice to reveal personal information,' he said.

'It's definitely an intrusion of people's privacy.'

The controversy came to light when a newly enrolled postgraduate student complained to the South China Morning Post that she had been required to fill out an 'inappropriate and very intrusive' questionnaire.

The form, which is issued by the university's health service, states: 'All students are reminded that completion of the health questionnaire is required to satisfy university entrance requirements.'

It asks students if they have suffered ailments such as  HIV/Aids, cancer, diabetes and mental illness, and how any deceased parent or sibling had died.

Women are asked what method of contraception, if any, they use, and if they have ever been pregnant.

'Information has to be collected fairly,' said Mr Law, adding that any undue pressure was unfair and bad practice.

'If it's for research purposes, the form should state clearly this is the case and give the person the choice to give any information.'

Mr Law said that there were no legal grounds for a university to force students to reveal such a level of personal information.

The questions were more appropriate for someone entering the military or the police  than a university.

A University of Hong Kong spokesman said they would modify the wording of the form in the future.

A spokesman for the university's health service insisted it was important to collect such information in order to establish accurate patient profiles and improve medical care.

Students angered - Education E1



HKU's sex questionnaire breaches privacy laws, says rights monitor