Since April 2007, Hongkong Post has contracted out the e-Cert services of Hongkong Post Certification Authority to E-Mice Solutions (HK) Limited [香港億軟信息技術有限公司] (the "current contractor"). The current contract, after a 12-month extension, will expire on 31 March 2012.

As a result of an open tender process conducted by Hongkong Post in mid-2011, Certizen Limited [翹晉電子商務有限公司] (the "new contractor" ) has been awarded a 6-year contract to operate e-Cert services for the period from 1 April 2012 to 31 March 2018.

The new contractor will be responsible for maintaining the existing e-Cert services. During the transition of service provision from the current contractor to the new contractor, there will be no change to the procedures of application for and renewal of e-Cert.

As regards e-Cert data, it is clearly stated in the contract that the e-Cert data is owned by the Government. The personal data of e-Cert subscribers shall be used by the contractor only in performance of its obligations pursuant to the contract for the provision of e-Cert services. If the contractor is to provide any value-added services, the e-Cert subscribers’ consent shall be sought before sending them any service information.

1. Will there be any change to e-Cert services due to the change of contractor?

There will be no change to the procedures of application for and renewal of e-Cert during the transition of service provision from the current contractor to the new contractor.

Further announcement will be made should there be any change to e-Cert services in the future.

2. Will the new contractor take over the personal data of e-Cert subscribers?

The personal data of e-Cert subscribers is owned by the Government.

The new contractor is responsible only for operating and maintaining e-Cert services.

To protect the personal data of e-Cert subscribers, the new contractor shall observe the stringent data protection procedures and the requirements under the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance in handling the personal data.