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Hong Kong Government Loses Laptops Containing Personal Data of 3.7 Million Voters (hongkongfp.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the careless-mistakes dept.

New submitter fatp writes: Hong Kong Free Press reports that the Registration and Electoral Office (REO) has lost two laptops containing the personal data of all 3.7 million voters after the chief executive election [on Sunday]. The REO said "the personal data was encrypted and there was no evidence that it had been leaked." Only 1,194 people had right to vote in the election.

19 comments

  1. HK EQUALS CHINA by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    And Bruce Li is punching his way out of his grave. And he is mad!

    1. Re: HK EQUALS CHINA by dougdonovan · · Score: 1

      anyone heard of the cloud.

    2. Re: HK EQUALS CHINA by Highdude702 · · Score: 1

      The only thing more insecure than walking around China with millions of voters personal info on laptops. Lol

  2. Poorly worded summary by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    The article doesn't state only a subset can actually vote but that the data loss also contained their equivalent to the electoral college's full names as well.

  3. the 1194 votes by SYSS+Mouse · · Score: 4, Informative

    The election committee has 1200 people, which covers a variety of official posts, industry representatives, etc. Some are ex officio (e.g. Legislative Council members) . Three member posts are vacant and three members are overlapped (i.e. hold mulitple posts due to their ex officio posts).

    1. Re:the 1194 votes by _Sharp'r_ · · Score: 1

      Thanks for explaining what "Only 1,194 people had right to vote in the election." was apparently supposed to mean.

      Maybe next time we can get the summary written in English.... I know, new here.

      --
      The party of stupid and the party of evil get together and do something both stupid and evil, then call it bipartisan.
  4. The telephone company called by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    They lost their phone book, there were 3.7 million of personal information lost, including names and addresses and phone numbers.

    1. Re:The telephone company called by quenda · · Score: 2

      The telephone book analogy is close.
      As in other modern societies, the electoral roll is a public record. It contains no secrets. But we still don't want telemarketers getting hold of it.

  5. TRUMP Admin. RUNNING SCARED!!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Silly studpid hillybillys!!!!!

    1. Re:TRUMP Admin. RUNNING SCARED!!!! by sheramil · · Score: 1

      Interestingly enough, Hong Kong is almost entirely hills, and yet is not festooned with bare-foot bearded guys with shotguns guarding their moonshine stills, strumming banjos or contemplating their nearer relatives with a view to marriage.

  6. The Registration office called by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    They lost their voter identification book, there were 3.7 million of personal information lost, including names and addresses and identity card numbers .

    FTFY...

    They reported the theft to the Mainland Affairs Bureau who responded that the Mainland didn't care one bit about voting issues in HK.

  7. Bigly by Tablizer · · Score: 2

    Just build a Great Firewall and make the mainland pay for it.

    --
    Table-ized A.I.
    1. Re:Bigly by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      PopeRatzo? Is that you?

  8. Did the laptop visit the USA? Get the TSA backup by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Did the laptop visit the USA? Get the TSA backup of the data.

  9. No evidence of a leak? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Wot? They did not see the trail of bits lying on the pavent leading to the perps? Was the streat sweaper early?

  10. Too many beers by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Did anyone else read the headline as "King Kong government loses laptops..."

    I better head to bed

  11. Public information by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    a comment on TFA states

    Before too many people get their knickers in a twist, bear in mind that the electoral register is public information. Anyone who so desires can consult it to find the name and address of all registered voters. This is a necessary part of an open democracy.

  12. So what? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    So what?