Whether they’re gathering data for customer satisfaction or researching market trends, business managers need to understand how the information they collect hk affects their customers and competitors. This is called data governance, and it’s a critical component of any organization’s success. A successful data governance program requires a team of people with varying skills and perspectives to create, support, sponsor and operationalize a framework of policies that aligns with an organization’s business goals.

In Hong Kong, personal data is governed by the Personal Data Protection Ordinance (PDPO). The PDPO establishes data subject rights and imposes specific obligations to data users through six data protection principles. It also authorizes a privacy commissioner to investigate and prosecute select data breaches, typically those that result in the public disclosure of private information, referred to as doxxing.

For organizations that process personal data in Hong Kong, the PDPO requires data mapping and privacy impact assessments (PIAs). Data mapping is the process of documenting and understanding how personal data flows through an organization, while PPIAs are the process of assessing the risks associated with an individual project or piece of software. In addition, the PDPO empowers individuals to request access to their own personal data and places responsibilities on businesses to notify them if they experience a breach.

Data users in Hong Kong must also comply with the PDPO’s requirements for transfer of personal data overseas. This includes completing a PIA and informing the data subject of the purposes for which the information is collected, its categories of recipients and the potential risks of such transfer. Additionally, an accrediting body must review and certify that the transfer meets certain requirements.

As you embark on your data governance journey, it’s important to remember that it’s a dynamic and ongoing process. Even with an initial set of core team members, your data governance program will require regular input from stakeholders who use and depend on the data. To ensure your team has the best chance of success, it’s helpful to organize data governance initiatives through a responsibility assignment matrix such as RACI (responsible, accountable, consulted, informed). This will help your stakeholders provide their feedback in a structured and organized way.