Hong Kong, mainland China to make sharing personal data easier in Greater Bay Area, first phase to cover banking, healthcare sectors

Hong Kong and mainland China will launch a pilot scheme this month to enable easier cross-border data transfers in the Greater Bay Area in an unprecedented move aimed at breaking down information barriers, with the first phase set to involve the banking, credit referencing and healthcare sectors.

A standard contract would be introduced to ensure the safe and orderly flow of personal data within the bay area for contractual purposes, the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau said on Wednesday.

“With the implementation of the [bay area] standard contract, the compliance costs of cross-boundary personal data flow for enterprises will be greatly reduced, thereby facilitating the provision of relevant cross-boundary services in the [bay area] and bringing convenience to the public and businesses,” a bureau spokesman said.

“The [bay area] standard contract also promotes the development of the [area’s] digital economy and helps Hong Kong better integrate into the national development.”

The bay area is Beijing’s ambitious plan to integrate Hong Kong, Macau and nine southern mainland Chinese cities into an economic powerhouse.

The scheme, which will be implemented in phases, will allow individuals and organisations in the bay area to voluntarily enter a standard contract, which outlines the responsibilities and obligations of both parties in protecting personal information, according to the bureau.

Under the first phase of the programme, set to launch this month, Hong Kong and mainland authorities will invite the banking, credit referencing and healthcare sectors to take part in the scheme, which is led by the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO) and the Cyberspace Administration of Guangdong Province.

Compliance requirements for the flow of personal data among nine mainland cities within the area and Hong Kong would be streamlined, the bureau said.