The legal services division of Hong Kong's Legislative Council has formally requested that the government provide clearer definitions regarding 'public interest' criteria for accessing land registry data. This inquiry follows the introduction of new regulations that restrict media access to the Integrated Registration Information System. Assistant Legal Adviser Vanessa Cheng submitted these questions to the Development Bureau ahead of a scheduled legislative discussion. Concurrently, lawmaker Kenneth Fok, representing the publishing industry, has advocated for more lenient access policies for journalists. The updated subsidiary legislation limits land record searches to nine specific purposes officially categorized as legitimate, prompting concerns about how public interest claims will be evaluated under the new framework.
Source : Hong Kong Free Press
Photo : Hong Kong Free Press
