Navigating Data Privacy Regulations in Higher Education: Challenges and Opportunities for Hong Kong

This paper explores the critical challenges and potential opportunities that universities and research institutions in Hong Kong face due to international data protection laws, particularly the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Whilst the GDPR sets a stringent standard for data privacy, Hong Kong’s current Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance diverges significantly from these regulations. This discrepancy has prevented Hong Kong from securing an adequacy decision from the European Commission, complicating data transfers from the EU to Hong Kong and impacting research activities. The paper advocates for legislative reforms in Hong Kong’s data privacy laws to align more closely with global standards, thus facilitating international research collaborations and enhancing data access for educational institutions. By examining the legal frameworks in Hong Kong and the EU, the study highlights the implications of these regulations on academic research and suggests pathways for achieving compliance and fostering global data exchange.