Suspected leak of personal data of Hong Kong leader, top officials and lawmakers on Telegram app popular with protesters sparks call for police probe
- City’s privacy watchdog says it received 315 complaints and inquiries related to case and has contacted social media platform to remove information
- Telegram has been popular with extradition bill protesters because of its encrypted messaging function
A suspected leak of the personal data of Hong Kong’s leader, top officials and lawmakers on an online messaging platform popular with extradition bill protesters has sparked calls for a police investigation.
Among the people affected were Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, Secretary for Justice Teresa Cheng Yeuk-wah, Commissioner of Police Stephen Lo Wai-chung and Secretary for Security John Lee Ka-chiu, who reportedly had their dates of birth, personal mobile numbers and social media or email accounts posted on chat group Telegram.
Others affected included executive council members Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee and Ronny Tong Ka-wah, former secretary of justice Elsie Leung Oi-sie and lawmakers such as Starry Lee Wai-king, chairwoman of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong.
The Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data said it received 315 complaints and inquiries related to the leak and had contacted operators of the relevant social media platforms to remove the information.