Staff to be instructed not to photocopy passports of customers checking in
Hotel staff should not photocopy customers' passports when checking them in or use their personal data for unsolicited marketing, industry professionals will be taught over the next three months.
Privacy Commissioner Roderick Woo Bun yesterday launched a hotel privacy campaign with the Hong Kong Hotels Association in a bid to train workers in handling the large amount of personal data to which they have access.
While annoying telemarketers calling several times a day offering VIP memberships are not the immediate targets of the drive, Mr Woo said the issue would also be covered as an 'ancillary point'.
'[Hotels] should only use data for the purpose for which they were collected,' he said. 'But this is an ancillary point as this kind of marketing transcends the hotel industry.'
Mr Woo said the campaign, which will include training sessions, display panels, games, a quiz and a competition, was not the result of excessive complaints against the industry but rather an attempt to 'fortify data protection and provide staff with practical guidance'.
'This is the first time we have identified one profession, one industry to work with ... We recognise it is very important to reach out to any sectors of the community dealing with sensitive personal data,' he said, adding the commission would reach out to other sectors as well, Mr Woo said.