Hong Kong Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data wins GovMedia Awards 2025
It brought home the Hong Kong Public Sector Initiative of the Year - Regulatory award.
In recent years, organisations in Hong Kong have increasingly been exploring the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) solutions to enhance their operations. Despite their interest in the technology, many have been concerned about inadvertently breaking regulations, including data protection laws.
The Model Framework has received widespread support from various sectors, including the Government, the legislature, academia, research institutes, and the IT industry.
To help address this concern, the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data, Hong Kong, China (PCPD) issued in June 2024 the “Artificial Intelligence: Model Personal Data Protection Framework (Model Framework), which provides a set of recommendations and best practices for organisations procuring, implementing, and using any type of AI systems, including generative AI systems, that involve the handling of personal data and facilitates compliance with the relevant requirements of the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance (PDPO), the local privacy law.
In response to the needs of organisations for practical guidance, especially small-and-medium enterprises, the Model Framework is written in plain language and aims to provide readily adoptable recommendations and best practices on AI governance.
Over 1,300 copies of the publication and the associated leaflet have been distributed to public and private organisations in Hong Kong. The Privacy Commissioner and PCPD representatives have also attended dozens of interviews and events to introduce the framework to different sectors and to encourage adoption. Stakeholders have publicly recognised this as useful and practicable in helping them enhance AI governance and protect personal data.
The PCPD found in interviews and events it attended that stakeholders have found the Model Framework practicable and helpful in facilitating compliance.
This initiative has enabled organisations to innovate responsibly, exemplifying how ethical AI principles can be applied to enhance privacy protection and strengthen Hong Kong’s digital economy. It illustrates how it is possible for regulators in the public sector to encourage innovation. By providing best practices that would help organisations mitigate risks and facilitate compliance with legal requirements, regulators can empower organisations to confidently adopt AI technologies.
Recommendations in the Model Framework are forward-looking, incorporating mechanisms for continuous evaluation and adaptation such as regular risk reassessments, ongoing feedback channels, and periodic audits. This ensures the relevance of organisational AI strategies as the environment evolves.
Ms Ada CHUNG Lai-ling, Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data (second left), has promoted the Model Framework to her counterparts internationally, including presenting it at the 62nd Asia Pacific Privacy Authorities Forum.
This major feat has been recognised by the GovMedia Conference & Awards 2025, as the PCPD clinched the Hong Kong Public Sector Initiative of the Year - Regulatory category win. The prestigious awards programme celebrates the achievements of government projects and initiatives from both government organisations and private sector companies that are not only transforming Asia Pacific, but are also making a significant impact across the globe.
The Gov Media Awards is presented by Gov Media Magazine. To view the full list of winners, click here. If you want to join the 2026 awards programme and be recognised for your organisation's government projects and initiatives, please contact Jane Patiag at [email protected].
