Sha Tin care team misplaces residents’ data, sparks privacy concerns

A Sha Tin community care team’s loss of a document containing personal details of 39 residents has raised alarms, prompting the Sha Tin District Office to issue warnings and bolster data protection measures to prevent future breaches.

The City One Shatin Ladies’ Association, which runs the City One Sub-district Care Team, informed the Sha Tin District Office on Thursday night that a team member likely misplaced a document during outreach work on Wednesday. 

The file included names, phone numbers, and addresses of 39 service users but no identity card numbers or other sensitive information. 

The association immediately reported the incident to the police and notified the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data.

It is now reviewing its security protocols and contacting affected residents, urging them to verify the identity of anyone claiming to be a care team member by reaching out to the team or the District Office. 

The Sha Tin District Office issued a formal warning to the care team, demanding strict compliance with data protection guidelines, and reminded all care teams across Hong Kong to heighten vigilance and enhance security measures. 

A hotline (5394 4751) has been established for public inquiries, and a dedicated webpage outlines anti-fraud precautions. 

The District Office apologized for the inconvenience and reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding personal information in the future.