Files with private information believed to be from the Immigration Department were found on a popular file-sharing programme yesterday, one month after the director's pledge to the personal data watchdog to protect privacy. Eleven Word documents were discovered available to download on a file-sharing programme called Foxy. The files included memos and minutes relating to cases involving immigration offences by an Iranian man and an Indonesian woman employed as a domestic helper. Private information including their names and date of birth was included. A spokesman said last night the Immigration Department was looking into the information. 'The department highlights the importance to protect personal data privacy. We have stepped up every possible measure to reduce the impact [of the leak],' he said. 'According to the information we have, there are no signs showing our computer system has been hacked.' The the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data was not immediately available for comment. The latest leak is the department's second breach in three months. In May, 27 files, most marked 'confidential', were found through the Foxy programme. The files contained information such as department watch lists, giving the names of individuals, travel document information and travel records. They also included mistakes made by immigration officers when handling visitors. A rookie immigration officer was held responsible and faced disciplinary action. The incident prompted Director of Immigration Simon Peh Yun-lu to sign a formal undertaking with Privacy Commissioner Roderick Woo Bun to make 10 changes to how the department handled private data. Lawmaker James To Kun-sun, vice-chairman of Legco's security panel, said the newly disclosed leak might have occurred before the previous incident and urged the department to conduct random checks on file-sharing software. 'The officers should continue checking the Web, trace the targets of the leaks and even try to dispose of those files,' he said. 'I will be shocked if it is a new case as it would reveal that the staff are not following the orders of the directors.'