HKBN has kick-started strong initiatives to delete customer data with targeted completion by end of July

HONG KONG, May 16, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Following the announcement last month on its intention to strengthen protection of customer data by retaining far less customer-related personal data, Hong Kong Broadband Network Limited ("HKBN" or the "Company") today announced the progress of discussions with the relevant authorities, as well as the implementation completion timetable for such decisive initiatives.

I.       Delete all personal data of non-existing customers

In accordance with its pledged action schedule, HKBN will delete from its database all personal data of customers whose accounts are closed and cleared for 6 months. The data deletion process has already started, and will be completed by the end of June.

II.       Retain only partial credit card numbers of existing customers

HKBN is working closely with banking institutions to use tokens instead of full credit card numbers to support payment transactions between the Company and the relevant banks. By the end of July, HKBN will completely remove from its database 6 digits (e.g. 1234 56XX XXXX 1234) of credit card numbers of its existing customers.

III.      Remove partial HKID numbers from front-line system

HKBN has been consulting with the Office of the Communications Authority (OFCA) about HKBN's proposal to randomly remove 2 digits and the bracketed digit (e.g. A12XX56(X)) when storing customers' Hong Kong ID card numbers. At the time of this release, OFCA advises that fixed-line and mobile operators must collect and verify customers' full HKID card numbers pursuant to OFCA's "Procedures for Handling Number Porting by Database Solution" and "Procedures for Mobile Number Portability Provision".

While discussions with OFCA are still on-going, HKBN will implement an interim arrangement by removing customers' partial HKID card numbers (e.g. A1234XX(X)) from its front-line system by the end of June. The full HKID card numbers will be securely saved at the back-end system with restricted access given only to a very limited number of HKBN authorised personnel. 

HKBN Co-Owner and CEO William Yeung said, "We have taken strong, decisive actions to implement industry-leading policies in relation to customer data collection and retention. A series of initiatives have also been put in place to curb cyberattacks in the future. Our ultimate goal is to ensure that customer data is thoroughly secured and protected." 

HKBN customer data retention policy & implementation timetable

About Hong Kong Broadband Network Limited

Hong Kong Broadband Network Limited is part of HKBN Group ("HKBN" or "the Group"). HKBN Group is Hong Kong's largest provider of residential high speed fibre broadband (symmetrical 100Mbps to 1,000Mbps) services by number of subscriptions, and a fast growing enterprise solutions provider. The Group offers a full range of telecommunications solutions for both the residential and enterprise markets, encompassing broadband and Wi-Fi network services, cloud solutions, data connectivity, data facilities, system integration, mobile services, entertainment and voice communications. The Group owns an extensive fibre network in Hong Kong, which covers over 2.2 million residential homes passed, representing approximately 81% of Hong Kong's total residential units, and more than 2,300 commercial buildings. HKBN embraces "Make our Hong Kong a Better Place to Live" as its core purpose, and takes great pride in developing its Talents into a competitive advantage. The Company is managed by about 300 Co-Owners who have invested their own savings to buy shares of HKBN Ltd., representing the majority of supervisory and management level Talents in the Company. HKBN is part of HKBN Ltd. (SEHK Stock Code: 1310).

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