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Privacy Policy

The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (“the Government”) is committed to ensuring that all personal data collected under the Cash Allowance Trial Scheme (“CATS”) are handled in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance (“the Ordinance”).

Types of personal data collected and purposes of collecting personal data

  • Personal data collected under CATS may include name, Hong Kong Identity Card number, Hong Kong Birth Certificate number, One-way Permit number, details of bank account, contact details, and other information that may be provided in relation to CATS (collectively referred to as “the Data”); and
  • The Data will be used for the following purposes: vetting and reviewing the cash allowance applications, and processing their related matters, including conducting random checks, monitoring and reviewing services, handling related enquiries and complaints, conducting research and surveys, preparing statistics, discharging statutory duties, etc.. The purposes mentioned above are collectively referred to as "Purposes".

Disclosure of personal data
The Office may collect the applicant household’s personal data from relevant government departments (including but not limited to Correctional Services Department, Land Registry (“LR”), Companies Registry, Transport Department and Social Welfare Department), public/private organisations (including but not limited to the Housing Authority, Hong Kong Housing Society, Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority, financial institutions, banks and insurance companies), and/or any third parties (including but not limited to employers) in possession of its personal data, or request the above institutions or persons to disclose such data, including its current and historical property registration records/land records in Hong Kong at the LR for the period from the date of completing the Public Rental Housing(“PRH”) application form to the entire period of receiving the cash allowance, for verification. To this end, the applicant household should agree and authorise the above institutions or persons to provide its personal data to the Office, including current and historical property registration records/land records kept by the LR. Moreover, the applicant household should agree that the Office may transfer the personal data provided by the applicant household in the application to relevant sections of the Housing Department for following up with its PRH application. The applicant household should agree that the Office and/or Housing Department may also use the applicant household’s personal data for the purpose of sending me/us information on housing-related matters. The applicant household should also agree that the Office may transfer the personal data provided by the applicant household in the application to other government departments (including but not limited to Rating and Valuation Department (“RVD”) for purposes relating to housing matters, and should agree that other government departments (including but not limited to RVD) may use the applicant household’s personal data for the purpose of sending the applicant household information on housing-related matters. The applicant household should also agree that the Office may, with respect to matters relevant to the application for the cash allowance as mentioned in Types of personal data collected and purposes of collecting personal data above, disclose the personal data provided by the applicant household to the above institutions or persons, including the personal data required or authorised by law or by an order of a court, or those required for exercising or defending legal rights in Hong Kong.

Protection Measures
The Government will take appropriate steps to protect the personal data we hold against loss, unauthorised access, use, modification or disclosure.

Data Access and Correction Requests

  • Request for access to and correction of the personal data provided under CATS or enquiries should be made to the Departmental Data Protection Officer of the Housing Department (application should be submitted by mail or by fax to the Departmental Data Protection Officer, Hong Kong Housing Authority Headquarters, 33 Fat Kwong Street, Ho Man Tin, Kowloon (Fax number: 2761 6363)).
  • Such application for access to personal data may be subject to a fee.

The Cash Allowance Trial Scheme’s Website (“CATS’ Website”)
The Government will record visits to CATS’ Website without collecting any identifiable personal information of users. Such general statistics are collected for the compilation of statistical reports and the diagnosis of problems with or concerning computer systems to help the Government improve CATS’ Website.