Sergeant launches appeal over Hong Kong Police Force’s access to personal betting information
During a disciplinary investigation into his own gambling activities, 53-year-old officer says his privacy was invaded
A police officer, who accused the force of unlawfully obtaining his personal information, has taken his case to the government’s appeals board after the city’s privacy watchdog found no wrongdoing.
Tsuen Wan station sergeant Lee King-man said the Hong Kong Police Force obtained an additional seven months of his gambling records from the Hong Kong Jockey Club while it was investigating the 53-year-old for bookmaking and placing bets during office hours.
According to Lee, Tsuen Wan Court in late 2011 granted the force permission to obtain three months of records from the jockey club up to March 10, 2012. However, the force received ten months worth of records up to October 3, 2012.
“If they needed extra personal data, they should have applied to the court for a warrant extension or issued a written request to the company in accordance with the (privacy) ordinance,” Lee said.
“But they did not do so... The force and jockey club invaded my privacy.”
Lee, who planned to retire in early 2018, was cleared of all criminal allegations, but faced 33 disciplinary charges as a result of the police force’s probe.