Last Updated: December 2024
Effective Date: January 1, 2024
Hong Kong Labor Insight ("we," "our," or "us") is committed to protecting the privacy and security of your personal data. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website, use our services, or interact with us.
This Privacy Policy is designed to comply with the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance (Cap. 486) of Hong Kong ("PDPO") and the European Union General Data Protection Regulation ("GDPR") where applicable.
1. Information We Collect
1.1 Personal Data You Provide
We collect personal data that you voluntarily provide to us, including:
- Contact Information: Name, email address, phone number, organization name, and mailing address when you contact us or subscribe to our services
- Communication Data: Messages, inquiries, and other information you provide when corresponding with us
- Professional Information: Job title, professional interests, research areas when relevant to our research services
- Research Participation Data: Survey responses, interview data, or other information provided for research purposes
1.2 Automatically Collected Information
When you access our website, we automatically collect certain technical information:
- Device Information: IP address, browser type and version, operating system, device identifiers
- Usage Data: Pages visited, time spent on pages, click patterns, referring website addresses
- Cookies and Similar Technologies: Information collected through cookies, web beacons, and similar tracking technologies (see our Cookie Policy below)
1.3 Information from Third Parties
We may receive information about you from publicly available sources, professional networks, or research partners when relevant to our research activities.
2. How We Use Your Personal Data
We process your personal data for the following purposes:
- Service Provision: To respond to your inquiries, provide research services, and fulfill contractual obligations
- Communication: To send you newsletters, research publications, updates about our services (with your consent where required)
- Research Activities: To conduct labor market research, analysis, and publication of findings (in anonymized form unless otherwise consented)
- Website Operation: To maintain, improve, and secure our website and services
- Legal Compliance: To comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements
- Analytics: To understand how our website is used and improve user experience
3. Legal Bases for Processing (GDPR)
For users subject to GDPR, we process personal data based on:
- Consent: Where you have given explicit consent for specific processing activities
- Contract Performance: Where processing is necessary to fulfill our contractual obligations to you
- Legitimate Interests: Where processing is necessary for our legitimate business interests (e.g., research, website security) and does not override your rights
- Legal Obligation: Where processing is required to comply with legal or regulatory requirements
4. How We Share Your Personal Data
We may share your personal data with:
- Service Providers: Third-party vendors who assist with website hosting, email services, analytics, and other business operations (under strict confidentiality agreements)
- Research Partners: Academic institutions or research organizations for collaborative research projects (with your consent or in anonymized form)
- Legal Authorities: Government agencies, regulators, or law enforcement when required by law or to protect our legal rights
- Business Transfers: In connection with any merger, sale, or transfer of our business assets (with notification to affected individuals)
We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal data to third parties for marketing purposes.
5. International Data Transfers
Your personal data may be transferred to and processed in countries outside Hong Kong. When we transfer data internationally, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place, including:
- Standard contractual clauses approved by relevant data protection authorities
- Adequacy decisions recognizing equivalent data protection standards
- Other legally recognized transfer mechanisms
6. Data Retention
We retain your personal data only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy or as required by law. Specific retention periods include:
- Contact Information: Retained while you remain subscribed to our communications or as needed for ongoing business relationships
- Research Data: Retained according to research protocols and academic standards (typically 5-7 years after publication)
- Website Usage Data: Typically retained for 12-24 months unless required for security purposes
- Legal Records: Retained as required by applicable laws and regulations
7. Your Rights
Under PDPO and GDPR (where applicable), you have the following rights regarding your personal data:
- Access: Request copies of your personal data
- Correction: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete personal data
- Erasure: Request deletion of your personal data (subject to legal retention requirements)
- Restriction: Request restriction of processing in certain circumstances
- Objection: Object to processing based on legitimate interests or for direct marketing
- Data Portability: Receive your personal data in a structured, machine-readable format
- Withdraw Consent: Withdraw consent for processing where consent was the legal basis
To exercise these rights, please contact us at: contact@hongkonglaborinsight.hk
8. Cookie Policy
8.1 What Are Cookies
Cookies are small text files placed on your device when you visit our website. We use cookies to improve website functionality, analyze usage patterns, and enhance user experience.
8.2 Types of Cookies We Use
- Essential Cookies: Necessary for website operation and security
- Functional Cookies: Remember your preferences and settings
- Analytics Cookies: Help us understand how visitors use our website
- Performance Cookies: Improve website speed and functionality
8.3 Managing Cookies
You can control cookies through your browser settings. Note that disabling certain cookies may affect website functionality. When you first visit our website, you will be asked to accept our use of cookies.
9. Data Security
We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal data, including:
- Encryption of data in transit and at rest
- Access controls and authentication procedures
- Regular security assessments and updates
- Staff training on data protection practices
- Incident response and breach notification procedures
While we strive to protect your personal data, no internet transmission is completely secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security of data transmitted to our website.
10. Children's Privacy
Our website and services are not directed to individuals under 18 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children. If you become aware that a child has provided us with personal data, please contact us immediately.
11. Third-Party Links
Our website may contain links to third-party websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these external sites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party websites you visit.
12. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in our practices, legal requirements, or services. We will notify you of material changes by:
- Posting the updated policy on our website with a new "Last Updated" date
- Sending email notification for significant changes (where we have your email address)
- Prominently displaying a notice on our website
Your continued use of our website after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy.
13. Contact Us
If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us:
Hong Kong Labor Insight
21/F, Tower 535, 535 Jaffe Road
Causeway Bay, Hong Kong
Email: contact@hongkonglaborinsight.hk
Phone: +852 3679 4421
14. Complaints and Regulatory Authority
If you are not satisfied with our response to your privacy concerns, you have the right to lodge a complaint with:
Hong Kong:
Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data
www.pcpd.org.hk
EU/EEA (where applicable):
Your local data protection supervisory authority
15. Research-Specific Data Protection
When conducting research involving personal data:
- We obtain informed consent from research participants
- We anonymize or pseudonymize data where possible
- We comply with research ethics guidelines and institutional review board requirements
- We implement additional security measures for sensitive research data
- We clearly communicate how research data will be used and published
Research participants retain rights to access their data, withdraw participation (within practical limits of research design), and raise concerns about data handling.