Close to 400 delegates from 35 countries, including privacy and data protection commissioners, privacy and technology experts and private and public sector representatives, gathered today (Monday) in Hong Kong for the 21^st International Conference on Privacy and Personal Data Protection. The Conference is organised by the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data and is held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.

The two-day Conference on 13 and 14 September is the most significant annual international Conference in the global privacy arena. It is held each year in a different location around the worid and this is the first time that the Conference has been held in Asia.

The theme of this year's Conference is "Privacy of Personal Data, Information Technology & Global Business in the Next Millennium". A total of 65 Speakers from 15 countries will discuss various topics including the impact of current and future technologies on privacy and personal data, personal data and electronic commerce, the impact of the European Union's Data Protection Directive on global business and trade as well as privacy issues related to specific sectors such äs Govemment, telecommunications, news media, information technology and law enforcement.

The opening ceremony of the Conference today was officiated by Mr. Leo Kwan, Acting Secretary for Home Affairs,

"For the last twenty years or so, this annual Conference has been the major international forum for privacy commissioners, data protection authorities, academia, consultants, businessmen and govemment officials from all parts of the worid to get together and discuss matters of common interest," Mr. Kwan said in his welcome address.

"This is the first time the Conference is held in Asia. We are honoured to be the host. The holding ofthe event in Hong Kong marks the progress not only in our protection of privacy, but also the progress in our protection of human rights in general," Mr. Kwan added.

One of the key issues to be examined during the Conference is the impact ofthe developments in Information technology and the Internet on individuals' privacy.

"The twilight of this Century is seeing the awesome growth of the Internet, and people in the new millennium will look to the Internet for information, communications and Services. The Internet, hailed already by many as the catalyst for a second industrial revolution, is requiring that our traditional business models and strategies be recalibrated," Mr. Stephen Lau, Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data and Chairman ofthe Conference, said.

"On the consumer front, while the community will enjoy unprecedented benefits across the entire spectrum of communications and Services, most of us are blissfully unaware that the Internet, our new window on the outside world, is actually a two-way mirror through which technology can record, track and profile all our online endeavours," Mr. Lau added.

"Specifically for the Hong Kong community and in line with our function to promote privacy awareness, we also have a specially designed IT stream, with an advanced seminar which aims to further educate and assist the Hong Kong IT practitioners and users in tackling data privacy issues related to IT Systems development and electronic commerce," Mr. Lau said.

The Conference will be followed by the annual meeting of data protection commissioners from around the worid.