Report - Guardian

60 The LSE Identity Project Report: June 2005the public sector. 123 The Hong Kong Privacy Commissioner’s smartcard Code doesprovide limited controls on the private sector use of the number.The card system was designed from the outset as a multi-use card, with few limits andsafeguards on its uses. In response to concerns regarding privacy, Hong Kong'sSecretary of Information Technology and Broadcasting stated in January of 2002 thatthere "will be no more data on the surface of the card, than the data that alreadyappears" and that:“… only minimal data will be stored in the card's chip. Except foressential immigration-related data and digital certificates, personaldata in respect of non-immigration related applications will be kept atback-end computer systems of the concerned governmentdepartments. None of the proposed non-immigration applications (thatis, using the card as a driving license and library card, storage of adigital certificate and change of address) will be mandatory.Cardholders will have a choice on whether to include the applicationson the card.” 124As concern grew regarding what could be stored on the card, the Government backeddown on proposals for the cards to carry health and bank records. As the card isdesigned for multiple purposes, there is nothing restricting the Government fromplacing this information back on the policy agenda.MalaysiaMalaysia has long had a national ID card, but in 2001 moved towards a smartcardscheme to replace both the older ID card and the driving licence. The card is called‘MyKad’, or Malaysian Card.The chip on the card contains a thumbprint and other personal information, includingbasic health information. It can be used to pay road tolls, to access automated tellermachines and can also act as an electronic-purse. 125 However, banks have dissuadedcustomers from using the card for banking purposes. 126 The chip on the card originallyhad a 32k memory storage, but the next generation card consists of a 64k chip, whichpermits the storage of multiple certificates, issued for specific government services.The card is issued at age 12 and re-issued at age 18. Children under age 12 are issuedwith a ‘MyKid’ card which currently does not contain a biometric, although theGovernment is now considering the collection of biometrics from new-borns. 127Malaysia recognises that it is leading the world on identity systems, and the MalaysianGovernment is willing to share its findings and technology. According to the director ofthe National Registration Department:123 ‘Submission on the smart ID Card and the Registration of Persons (Amendment) Bill 2001’, Professor GrahamGreenleaf, University of Hong Kong Faculty of Law, October 28, 2002.124 C. Yau, Letter to the Editor, South China Morning Post, January 25, 2002.125 Unisys case study on The Government of Malaysia, available athttp://www.unisys.com/public_sector/clients/featured__case__studies/malaysia__smart__card__.htm.126 ‘Privacy of MyKad Holders to Be Protected by Law,’ New Straits Times, May 19, 2004127 ‘Malaysia to fingerprint all new-born children’, John Oates, The Register, May 4, 2005.