Hong Kong’s Data Centres and the PDPO

The rapid growth of Hong Kong’s pillar industries and other emerging service sectors generates great demand for data centres to store, process and transmit massive amounts of data. The thriving business community in the region also increases the demand for secure and reliable data centre services. This, in turn, creates a strong demand for local and international professional staff to manage the data centres. Hong Kong’s unique advantages, such as free trade and a highly developed legal system, together with the city’s strategic location, make it a prime choice for businesses to set up their regional data centres.

Data is the backbone of modern economies. It drives innovation, enhances productivity and propels economic development. In order to keep pace with the world, the Government of Hong Kong has established a new office to draft digital policies and harness technology and data for the future. This will help boost the digital economy and advance smart-city initiatives.

The new office will set up in the middle of this year and be headed by a seasoned senior official from the IT industry to provide a comprehensive policy response to the challenges faced by the data economy. The policy measures will aim to promote a culture of privacy by design, facilitate data sharing and the exchange of best practices, while ensuring that laws and regulations are clear and flexible enough to respond to technological developments.

Moreover, the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data (PCPD) will continue to play a vital role in driving and enforcing compliance with the Personal Data Protection Ordinance (PDPO). The PCPD encourages its stakeholders to embrace a holistic approach to data protection that encompasses both the ethical and technical aspects of protecting personal data. This is exemplified in the PCPD’s emphasis on the importance of the privacy impact assessment and the promotion of transparency and accountability in the processing of personal data.

Under the PDPO, “personal data” means any information that can be used to identify an individual. For example, a person’s name and HKID number are considered personal data if they are combined to identify that individual, even if the information is not publicly displayed or made available to the public. Other examples include CCTV recordings of crowds, records of persons entering car parks and documents containing details of meetings.

Unlike some other jurisdictions, the PDPO does not have any extraterritorial application, meaning that it applies only to data users who carry out operations controlled in Hong Kong. However, the PCPD has also been active in promoting international cooperation on data transfer matters. For example, it has participated in the Asia-Pacific Privacy Authorities’ Forum on Cross-Border Transfers of Personal Data and is a founding member of the Global Privacy Alliance.

Learn the Basics of Blackjack

Blackjack is a game of chance, but one that can be beaten by learning the basics. The key to winning is knowing when to hit or stand, and the right decision can mean a huge pay off. The best way to learn this is to study the game’s basic strategy, which uses proven mathematics to give you the best chances of winning. This can be as simple as deciding whether or not to split a pair of eights, and as complicated as knowing when to double down on a hand that contains an ace.

Aside from studying the basic strategy, you should also understand how to play the various blackjack variations. These can include side bets, like the insurance bet, which allows players to make a side bet on the dealer’s card. This bet pays out 2 to 1 if the dealer has blackjack, but it is an expensive proposition for the player.

Managing your bankroll is another important factor in blackjack, and this can be done in several ways. Some players prefer to increase their bets after every loss, hoping that the increased size of their next bet will allow them to recoup the lost money. However, this is a risky strategy, and a series of losses can eat up your profits quickly. It is usually better to play a smaller amount for longer periods of time, since this gives you a better chance of escaping with fewer losing streaks.

You should also avoid playing when you are hungover or drinking, as these can have an adverse effect on your ability to remember and apply basic blackjack strategy. The use of a calculator is also advisable, as this can help you keep track of your bets and winnings. Additionally, it is a good idea to play shorter sessions of blackjack, as the long run of games tends to favor the house.

The objective of blackjack is to beat the dealer, and this can be achieved by creating a higher hand value than the dealer’s. In order to achieve this, you should try to get a blackjack, which is made up of an ace and a card with a value of 11 or higher. It is also possible to get a 21 by getting two cards with the same value, but this is unlikely to occur very often.

Using basic blackjack strategy is the most effective way to improve your odds of winning, and you can find this online at BJ Math. This site features articles and discussion forums that explore the mathematical aspects of blackjack, and it even has a section for beginners called ‘Novice Corner’. In addition, there are plenty of other blackjack blogs and websites that offer advice on the best way to play the game. These blogs can be a useful source of information for novices, and many of them feature detailed explanations of the rules of blackjack. They can also provide tips on how to make the most of your time at the table.