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Regulations › Rest of world › Hong Kong SAR

PDPO

Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance (Cap. 486)

In force privacy
WhenIn effect since 20 December 1996
Who enforces itOffice of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data (PCPD)
Who it applies toAny person who controls the collection, holding, processing or use of personal data in or from Hong Kong.
Tell the regulatorNo mandatory notification DPO requiredNo DPO requirement RegistrationData user return scheme exists but has not been activated for any class of data user Transfers abroadNo transfer restriction in force Request deadlineComply with a data access request within 40 days Maximum fineCriminal fines up to HKD 1,000,000 (about USD 128k) for doxxing causing harm or selling data f…

Asia's oldest comprehensive privacy law, built on six data protection principles with no breach notification duty and no transfer restriction in force. Its sharpest teeth are criminal offenses for direct marketing without consent and doxxing.

86% coveredif you already meet GDPR. 3 requirements to work on.See the gap → 1 of 21requirements scored most demanding, each cited to the law.See all 21 → 129 sectionsindexed by topic, each linked to the official text.Read section by section →

The Association's practitioner brief for this law is on the way; the priority laws come first.

Read the official text

Recent developments

Nothing reported yet. Regulatory Watch lists new rules, enforcement and court decisions as they arrive.

Sources

  • Regulator Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data (PCPD) · Official text or regulator
  • Text of the law English and Chinese (both official) · Official text or regulator

Dates and status checked against these sources on 18 October 2026. This page explains the law for practitioners; it is not legal advice.

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