We hold the following types of personal data -

	Operational records - personal data are collected from individuals during the daily operation of the Department. Examples are personal data collected from the following categories of data subjects: importers, cross boundary passengers and drivers having undergone customs clearance or selected for personal search, consignee or his representative who witnesses the process of cargo examination, visitors boarding a vessel selected for customs action, airline staff collecting unclaimed baggage, persons whose belongings are detained/seized and persons submitting Import Return on motor vehicles;
	Licensing records - these include personal particulars of applicants for Dutiable Commodities licences, licences/authorizations to import/export controlled chemicals, permits to remove controlled chemicals in transhipment, storage approval for the storage of Schedule 1 or 2 substances under the Control of Chemicals Ordinance, Cap. 145, licences for the manufacture of optical discs, registration as motor vehicle importer/distributor, waiving of duty on hydrocarbon oils, etc;
	Crime investigation and prosecution records - including personal data on suspects, defendants and witnesses who are involved in illegal activities such as smuggling, drug trafficking and abuse of narcotic drugs, intellectual property infringements, false trade description of goods involving origin, licensing and transhipment frauds, illegal import and export of strategic commodities, provision of services for the development and production of weapons of mass destruction, offences against the Ordinances enforced by the Department such as Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, Consumer Goods Safety Ordinance, Import and Export Ordinance and so on;
	Criminal conviction records - these include personal data on persons who have been arrested or convicted of offence;
	Employment-related personal data on serving officers and former employees - these personal data include records of personal and family particulars, education and qualifications, employment history, salary and allowances, terms and conditions of service, housing, medical records, leave and passages, training, investments, outside employment, appraisal reports, promotion board assessments, conduct and discipline and retirement and pension; and
	Other records - including members of the public who make requests under the Code on Access to Information and the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance or make enquiries or complaints to the Department.

The Department also holds personal data of persons other than civil servants, including applicants for vacant posts (for appointment as Inspector of Customs and Excise, Customs Officer and Assistant Trade Controls Officer) and non-civil service contract staff employed by the Department.
 

In general terms, we collect personal data for the following purposes -

	to protect the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region against smuggling;
	to protect and collect revenue on dutiable goods;
	to detect and deter narcotics trafficking and abuse of narcotics drugs;
	to protect intellectual property rights;
	to protect consumer interests;
	to protect and facilitate legitimate trade and industry and to uphold Hong Kong's trading integrity;
	to fulfil international obligations;
	to serve for a range of employment-related purposes including appointment, integrity checking, postings and transfers, offer/renewal/extension of agreement, incremental credit, training and career development, revision of terms and conditions of service, promotion, discipline, continuation in or removal from office, pensions, retirement benefits and provisions of testimonials. Some personal particulars may be published in Government publications; and
	to serve various purposes such as recovering damages for government vehicles and dealing with enquiries or complaints from members of the public.

Data access or correction requests may be made by letter or on a request form obtainable from the following places :

	Personnel Registry of Office of Departmental Administration 9/F, Harbour Building, 38 Pier Road, Central, Hong Kong;
	Office Management and Support Units of all Major Formations;
	Hong Kong Collection Office, 2/F, Harbour Building, 38 Pier Road, Central, Hong Kong; and
	Licence & Permit Division 2/F, Harbour Building, 38 Pier Road, Central, Hong Kong.

Requests should be addressed to:

Commissioner of Customs and Excise
(Attn. : Executive Officer (Personnel)2)
9/F, Harbour Building, 38 Pier Road,
Central, Hong Kong

A charge will be imposed to cover the cost of photocopying personal data at the rate of HK$1.00 per photocopy or as otherwise provided for or approved by the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury.

Customs and Excise Department
July 2003