Baptist University Applicant Data Leak

First published: 30^th June 2009

According to a report by vice-president (Administration) and secretary of Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) Andy Lee Shiu-chuen, a member of staff responsible for student recruitment of the BA (Hons) in English Language and Literature and BEd (Hons) in English Language Teaching programs accidentally attached a file containing personal data of 190 applicants to an email sent to 95 applicants. The employee then sent another email, asking the recipients to delete the previous email and attached file.

The University has reported the incident to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data and set up a five member team to investigate the case. Mr. Lee said that the University had called all the applicants affected to apologise.

Yui Kee Chief Consultant Allan Dyer commented, "This type of incident is very difficult to prevent, especially in a general office environment where staff use computers for many administrative tasks. The power of computers can make a simple miss-click very damaging."