Related Ordinances

To cover computer-related crimes, Telecommunications Ordinance (Cap. 106), Crimes Ordinance (Cap. 200) and Theft Ordinance (Cap. 210) have been amended to create some new offences and broaden the coverage of existing offences.

The following table shows the ordinances covering computer-related crimes

Enacted on 7 January 2000 to facilitate the use of electronic transactions for commercial and other purposes. It gives electronic records and digital signatures used in electronic transactions the same legal status as that of their paper-based counterparts. It also enables the Postmaster General to provide the services of a certification authority.

Please visit https://www.elegislation.gov.hk/hk/cap553!en for more information.

The Unsolicited Electronic Messages Ordinance(UEMO) was enacted in May 2007 with an aim to regulate the sending of all forms of commercial electronic messages (CEMs) with the "Hong Kong link". It establishes the rules for sending CEMs such as providing accurate sender information and unsubscribe facilities as well as the launch of the do-not-call registers, and prohibits professional spamming activities such as the use of unscrupulous means to gather/generate recipient lists for sending CEMs without the consent of recipients, and fraudulent activities related to the sending of multiple CEMs.

For detail, please visit OFCA website and https://www.elegislation.gov.hk/hk/cap593!en.

To protect the privacy interests of living individuals in relation to personal data. The Ordinance covers any data relating directly or indirectly to a living individual (data subject), from which it is practicable to ascertain the identity of the individual and which are in a form in which access or processing is practicable. It applies to any person (data user) that controls the collection, holding, processing or use of personal data.

Please visit Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data for more information.

Hong Kong's new Copyright Ordinance came into effect on 27 June 1997. It provides comprehensive protection for recognised categories of literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works, as well as for films, television broadcasts and cable diffusion, and works made available to the public on the Internet.

The following table shows intellectual property related laws

Source: Department of Justice of HKSAR

FAQ related to intellectual property.

In many cases, although no explicit reference to the cyber environment is made, the relevant legislation may be interpreted to cover both the physical and the virtual worlds. For example, the provisions of the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance are equally applicable to the cyber environment as the physical environment.

Many other legislative provisions refer to "computer" or similar terms. Some examples are set out below.

The following table shows other related ordinance