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A spokesman for the Fire Services Department (FSD) said today (March 14) that the FSD has reported to the Police a case in which printed copies of Ambulance Journey Records were found missing at Tsuen Wan Ambulance Depot. The Police have started their investigation and the case has been initially classified as theft.
The staff at Tsuen Wan Ambulance Depot found on March 12 that the printed copies of the Ambulance Journey Records for November 11 and 12, 2012, were missing. The printed copies contained personal data (including names, identity card numbers and gender and clinical information) for about 160 people who used emergency ambulances on these two days. The printed copies were originally stored in a locked cabinet inside the office of the ambulance depot and could only be accessed by authorised persons. As a thorough search to locate the copies was unsuccessful, the staff of the ambulance depot reported the case to the Police on the same day. The FSD has also made a report to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data.
"The FSD expresses concern over the case and is using all means to contact the affected people as soon as possible. While apologising sincerely to those affected, the FSD will investigate the case thoroughly with the authorities concerned and review the procedures for data storage and security arrangements to prevent the reoccurrence of similar incidents," the spokesman said.
Ends/Thursday, March 14, 2013
Issued at HKT 14:50
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