Legal Affairs EP08 | Stephen Wong explains 'extraterritorial application' of Mainland's PIPL

The Personal Information Protection Law of the People's Republic of China (PIPL), the first law in the Mainland dedicated to the protection of personal information, has come into force on Nov. 1, 2021. In this episode of Legal Affairs, Lawrence Ma, Chairman of the Hong Kong Foundation for Legal Exchange, invites Stephen Wong, former Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data, to discuss the background of the PIPL and how it will affect individuals and businesses in HK.

With the rapid development of digital economy in China, it was imperative for mainland authorities to promulgate the PIPL so as to better protect the data security of Chinese citizens. Wong said that some academics believe that this law may be the most stringent in the world in terms of personal information protection. Meanwhile, the law is believed to have the most long-term impact on relevant businesses and individuals.

Wong added that the PIPL also reflects the Mainland's determination to protect national security and financial security. For example, under the law, deposit information in financial accounts in the Mainland will be considered sensitive personal information, and separate consent is required for the transfer of personal data in financial accounts from the Mainland to other countries or regions.

Regarding the difference between the laws on personal data protection in the Mainland and HK, Wong said that the scope of application of the laws in the two places and the severity of the penalties are different, with the Mainland being significantly more stringent.

What should individuals and businesses in HK pay attention to after the enactment of the PIPL? Watch the video now for more details.