Privacy Policy

1. Statement of Policy
1.1		All personal data submitted through this mobile application (App) and/or contained in the App are handled by the Buildings Department (BD) in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance (Cap. 486) (PDPO).
1.2		When BD collects personal data from individuals, a Personal Information Collection Statement in an appropriate format and manner will be provided.
1.3		BD is not responsible for the privacy practices of other websites to which this App is linked.
2. Statement of Practice
2.1	Information Collected when Accessing and/or Using the App
	(a) The App records only the login time and IP address of the last visit of property owners or Qualified Persons (collectively referred to as “User”) for enforcing the compliance with BD’s security policies. Other than those required personal data specified in the Provision of Personal Data, general statistics about the App will be recorded without collecting any personal identifiable information or perform online behavioral tracking. Such general statistics are collected to compile statistical reports, provide statistical information to users, diagnose problems with, or concerning, computer systems to help improve the App.
	(b) This App supports sharing of apps information via third party service providers (“Share” function). If the User uses the “Share”function of the App, please refer to the privacy policy of the corresponding service providers.
2.2	Provision of Personal Data
	2.2.1 Kinds of Personal Data Collected
	(a) For different purposes and at different times, QP may be invited to provide personal data through the App. Personal information may include name, Hong Kong Identity Card number, passport number, qualified person registration number, authorized signatory registration number, telephone number or email address. To use the App, there may be some personal data which the QP would have to provide. Personal information including personal information previously provided to BD by the QP will also be used for data comparison during registration and activation of the account of QP and account management and regular checking to confirm the QP’s identity and eligibility for using this App.
	(b) BD will specify the collection purposes and intended usage of the User’s personal data collected. The User will be informed of the means to request access to or correction of the personal data provided.
	2.2.2 Purposes of Collecting Personal Data
	Personal data relating to the use of this App are collected for the following purposes: (a) registrating, activating and managing the User’s account and conducting regular checking to confirm the User’s identity and eligibility for using the App; (b) facilitating communication among users as well as between the User and BD; (c) sending e-notifications to the User; (d) compiling data for statistics purpose; and (e) replying to property owner’s extension of time applications.
	2.2.3 Disclosure of Personal Data
	(a) The name, registration number and expiry date of QP are disclosed to the User for facilitating property owner to ascertain the status of the QP. (b) The premises address are disclosed to the QP selected or awarded by the property owner for facilitating communication and preparation of quotation. (c) The User’s personal data provided in the App may be disclosed to other government departments, bureaux, organisations or any persons for the purposes mentioned in Purposes of Collecting Personal Data above. (d) Unless otherwise specified, permitted or required by law, BD will not disclose the User’s personal data to any third parties without the User’s prior consent.
2.3	Outsourcing Arrangements
	This App is developed and maintained by a local third-party service provider, and is operated and administered by the staff of BD. The third-party service provider does not have access to the personal data stored in the information technology system except when it carries out trouble-shooting of the App at BD’s office under the supervision of BD's staff. The third-party service provider is bound by a contractual duty to keep confidential any personal data they come into contact in relation to the development and maintenance of the App and to protect such personal data against unauthorised access, use and retention.
2.4	Protection Measures
	(a) BD endeavours to take appropriate steps to protect the personal data held against loss, unauthorised access, use, modification or disclosure.
	(b) The App uses encryption mechanism to protect personal data during transmission over the network. All personal data provided by the User to BD via the App are secured, and access to them is restricted to authorised personnel only.
2.5	Retention
	BD maintains and executes retention policies to ensure that personal data are not kept longer than is necessary for the fulfilment of the purposes for which the personal data are or are to be used. Different retention periods apply to the various kinds of personal data collected and held by BD.
2.6	Data Access and Correction
	The User has the right of access to and right to request correction of the personal data as provided under the PDPO. If the User maintains a user account in the App, the User may access and correct the information/data kept in the personal profile by logging into the User’s account in the App. Request for access or correction to the personal data can also be made in the Data Access Request Form (No.OPS003) as specified by the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data under section 67(1) of the PDPO and sent to us by mail to “Mandatory Building Inspection Division, Mandatory Building Inspection Section 1, Structural Engineer/MBI1-D1” at “3rd floor, Buildings Department Headquarters, North Tower, West Kowloon Government Offices, 11 Hoi Ting Road, Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon. By virtue of section 20(3)(e) of the PDPO, a data access request may be refused if it is not made in this Form. BD has the right to charge a reasonable fee for processing any data access request.
2.7	Enquiries
	Any enquiries regarding personal data privacy policy and practice may be addressed to the Departmental Secretary at “Buildings Department Headquarters, North Tower, West Kowloon Government Offices, 11 Hoi Ting Road, Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon, Hong Kong”.