HKJA Urges Government to Withdraw New Rules Tightening Media Access to Land Records

The Hong Kong Journalists Association on Wednesday urged the government to withdraw amendments tightening media access to land records, saying the new arrangements will worsen information asymmetry and harm freedom of information. The amendments were gazetted last week and take effect next year, with searches limited to 9 specified purposes, news reporting not among them, though "public interest" may be cited as a reason, with each application assessed case by case by the Land Registry. The Development Bureau says the measures aim to strengthen protection of personal data privacy.