The Standard

Privacy Policy Statement

  1. Commitment
    1. Sing Tao Limited, its holding company, subsidiaries and/or its related companies (hereinafter collectively referred to as "Sing Tao Group") are aware of and understand the customers’, website visitors’ and mobile application users’ concern about their the privacy of their personal data.
    2. Sing Tao Group's Hong Kong companies (including but not limited to the companies and publications listed in Annex I) ("Hong Kong Sing Tao Companies") provide different services through different models, methods, media and channels, including but not limited to the websites and applications, including but not limited to providing product and service information, membership, enrichment of information and content, various online tools/functions, various activities and/or promotions, sales and/or purchase of goods and services, blogs, and/or participation in discussion forums.
    3. Each of the Hong Kong Sing Tao Companies undertakes to abide by the "Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance" (Chapter 486) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region ("the Hong Kong Privacy Ordinance"). This Privacy Policy Statement applies to all Hong Kong Sing Tao Companies.
    4. This Privacy Policy Statement ("this Statement") applies to you when you engage in browsing and/or downloading Sing Tao websites/applications; or registering and/or using the services provided by Hong Kong Sing Tao Companies.
    5. Under this Statement, each Sing Tao website/application you enter, browse and/or download is referred to as “this Website/Application”, and each Hong Kong Sing Tao Company providing such website/application is referred to as “this Company” or “we”; and the services provided by this Company to you is referred to as “this Service”.
    6. This Statement outlines the collection, use, disclosure, transfer, and storage of your personal data by the Company and the relevant choices you can make. This Statement should be interpreted in conjunction with the “Terms of Use” and (where applicable) the “Subscription Terms and Conditions” (collectively referred to as the "Terms and Conditions") applicable to this Website/Application and Service. However, if there is any inconsistency between this Statement and the Terms and Conditions related to personal data, this Statement shall prevail. This Statement should also be interpreted in conjunction with the Personal Information Collection Statement ("Personal Information Collection Statement") applicable to this Website/Application and Service. However, if there is any inconsistency between this Statement and the "Personal Information Collection Statement" regarding personal data, the "Personal Information Collection Statement" shall prevail.
    7. For the avoidance of doubt, this Statement does not apply to the personal data you send to third parties, and the Company is not responsible for the ways in which such personal data is collected and/or used by the third parties.
    8. If you are under the age of 18 or under the guardianship of your parent or legal guardian, you should have obtained the express consent of your parent or legal guardian before providing your personal data to us. It means that you and your parent or legal guardian should have agreed to accept the terms of this Statement and be subject to them.

  2. Data collection
    1. When you login this Service or register as a user of this Service, we will collect your personal data. When you use this Service, we also collect information related to your login or use of this Service.
    2. The personal data we may collect from you include the data you provide when you:
      1. Use or register to login this Service;
      2. >Sign up for any of our event; and/or
      3. >Ask us for gifts/purchase products or services.
    3. You may occasionally provide us with personal data about other people, and in each of the above cases, you must abide by relevant laws and regulations, including the Hong Kong Privacy Ordinance, and before using the data for the relevant purpose, you must first obtain the authorization of the relevant person (including agreeing on their behalf to our use, disclosure and transfer of their personal data). We may ask you to provide us with any required supporting documents to prove the above authorization. You should also inform the relevant person to contact us for detail.

  3. Log Files
    1. When you browse this Website/Applications and/or use this Service, the server of the Company will only collect your browsing/use of this Website/Application, and/or data of the use of this Service including but not limited to your IP address, domain name, browser type and access time, etc.) ("Log Files"), but will not collect your personal data. However, if you register an account on this Website/Application and log in your account, we may combine your Log Files with other personal data we collect from you. These Log Files will be treated as your personal data and used in accordance with this Statement and "Personal Information Collection Statement".
    2. For any inquiries about the collection, use and/or cessation of use of Log Files, please mail to Sing Tao News Corporation Building, 7 Chun Cheong Street, Tseung Kwan O Industrial Estate, New Territories, Hong Kong, "Sing Tao Group", Marketing Department Officer, or email to enquiry@singtaonewscorp.com. On the cover, please indicate "Enquiry about the collection, use and/or cessation of use of Sing Tao Group Log Files".

  4. Use of Cookies and other tracking mechanisms
    1. When you browse this Website/Application, cookies will be stored on your computer, mobile device or other device, for internal navigation and programming purposes. We may use cookies and other tracking mechanisms described below to track information about your use of this Website/Application ("Tracking Data"). We may combine this Tracking Data with other personal data we collect from you. These Tracking Data will be treated as your personal data and used in accordance with this and "Personal Information Collection Statement".
    2. We use cookies when we transmit an alphanumeric identifier to your computer, mobile device or other device through your web browser, for record keeping. Some cookies allow us to make it easier for you to browse this Website/Application, while others are used to speed up the login process, or allow us to store and track your personal interests and preferences on this Website/Application.
    3. We also commission third parties to track and analyze non-personally identifiable data from this Website/Application. We use the data collected by these third parties to help us manage and improve the quality of this Website/Application, and analyze its usage. Such information is not connected to and independent of any personal data. These third parties may combine the non-identifiable personal data we provide about you with other information they collect.
    4. You can disable cookies by editing your browser settings. Once cookies are disabled, you may not be able to continue to use certain functions of the this Website/Application. By using this Service and browsing this Website/Application, you agree to our use of cookies.
    5. We may also use your location data, to provide reminders of nearby activities. We will not collect and store your location data for other purposes. You can turn the location service on or off by yourself.
    6. We may also send push notifications through relevant applications that you have downloaded, including articles that you may be interested in, and advertisements and other information about products, goods, services, discounts or offers provided by merchants. Your viewing information does not contain your personal data, and we will not use your personal data for sending push notifications. Push notifications are sent through the push notification function on your mobile device. If you do not want to receive push notifications, you can configure related settings on your mobile device.
    7. If you interact with us on social media platforms (for example, "Like" the Facebook page of the Company), we will be able to interact with you, and send you messages through these platforms. We will interact with you in accordance with the rules of the relevant social media platform, but we will not be responsible for how the operator of the platform collects and processes your personal data. We will not be held responsible for third party posts on our social media accounts.
    8. In addition, certain third party services or social networks (such as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Weibo, WhatsApp) (hereinafter collectively referred to as "the Third Party") may, subject to your permission, transfer data from your account (such as User ID, email address, friend list) and provide to us. Using any of our services through the Third Party platform, or through social plug-ins and/or any services on any of our web pages (including but not limited to leaving message, share, "like" button, email) and connecting to the Third Party's network, platform or service, means that you allow us to, in accordance with this Statement, collect, store and use any/all of the information or personal data provided to us, through the Third Party, in accordance with your account setting at that Third Party, via such network/platform/application programming interface (API).

  5. Types of data collected

    6. When browsing this Website, downloading this Application or using/registering for this Service, we will collect from you certain types of personal data, which may include but not limited to your name, gender, age range, month and year of birth, contact information, email address, mailing/correspondence address, contact number, membership number, marital status, family status, education level, occupation, username and password, Log Files, tracking information, social media account information, credit card information, etc. The specific types of personal data to be collected will be listed in the relevant Personal Information Collection Statement and will be displayed at or before the collection of personal data.

  6. Purpose and use of personal data obtained
    1. We will use your personal data for the purposes shown in the relevant "Personal Information Collection Statement" (which will be provided at the time of or before collection your personal data) and this Statement. This includes transferring your personal data to the third parties listed in the "Personal Information Collection Statement" for the purposes shown in the "Personal Information Collection Statement" and enabling them to use your personal data.
    2. Your submission of personal data should be completely voluntary, but if you need us to process your registration for you or to use this Service, you must provide all personal data marked as "required”. The personal data you provide will be used for the following purposes and other purposes related to and/or in furtherance of the following purposes (collectively, the "Purposes”):
      1. According to your application, register you as a user or member of the application/website;
      2. Providing and improving this Service, as well as account management related thereto, such as providing you with better services when using application/website and/or during/between one or multiple sessions to save your personal data and/or information in multiple pages;
      3. To execute, continue and terminate the use of this Service;
      4. To enable your personal data to be readily available and pre-filled in other user registrations under Sing Tao Group without having to fill in such information for each individual program;
      5. Design new services provided by the Company, and / or provide you with customized services and membership benefits;
      6. Contact you, including but not limited to replying to inquiries, complaints and/or making suggestions, or contact you on daily operation and management of your membership/account (if any) status;
      7. Send you birthday messages and offers (if you have provided your month of birth) or event reminders;
      8. Direct marketing and promotional purposes, only if your prior consent is obtained. Please refer to the "Direct Marketing" section below
      9. Market survey and analysis, and data analysis, research, information management and database management;
      10. After registering as a user, where necessary and in contingencies, obtain your account information and manage your account (including but not limited to changing your password, updating your personal data, subscribing/unsubscribing to direct marketing, etc.);
      11. Research, development and analysis related to your/customer's behavior, including data sorting and analysis to enable us to further understand your characteristics and transaction behaviours, so that we can provide other personalized services according to your needs and help us to select marketing categories that you may be interested in, and conduct behavioural analysis integration, including the use of personal data for statistical analysis, data science research and data mining;
      12. Identify and verify your identity and/or membership, verify the identity of users who post advertisements, data, messages, comments or other related information on this Website/Application and other platforms of the Company;
      13. Other internal purposes, including but not limited to improving the contents of this Website/Application and other platforms of the Company, conducting research and statistical analysis;
      14. Protecting the Company's legal rights and interest, collecting arrears;
      15. Investigating complaints and suspected suspicious transactions or activities;
      16. Stop, detect, investigate and/or prevent activities that may violate or may be suspected of violating the Company's policies or may involve abuse, illegal and/or criminal behaviour;
      17. Disclosures to government or regulatory authorities in Hong Kong and overseas as required by any law governing us;
      18. Handle any of your required payment operations, reservations, purchases, orders or related requests and to complete the transactions requested by you; and
      19. Other purposes directly related to any of the above.

  7. Data accuracy
    1. You promise to: (a) provide us with true, accurate, real-time and complete personal data, and (b) update the above information from time to time. If we suspect that you have violated this paragraph, we are entitled to suspend or terminate your account or deny you access to this Service or any part thereof without prior notice.
    2. If we believe that it is necessary to take any action against you (including but not limited to recovering debts from you or other reasons), you expressly agree that we can use the personal data you provide to identify you and instigate legal proceedings against you

  8. Data preservation

    9. The time limit for us to save your personal data will not exceed the time required or will be required to achieve the purpose. If you subscribe for services provided by the Company, the personal data you provide will be retained until the last service period of the services your subscribed is terminated or a reasonable period of time after such service is terminated, unless the relevant preservation is to meet the requirements of laws, decrees, regulations or accounting, or to protect our rights and interests (for example, we may retain your personal data for a longer period of time in the event of a complaint or if we reasonably believe that there is a possibility of litigation relating to our relationship with you).

  9. Third party merchants

    10. This Website/Application may contain links to other websites from time to time. These other websites are independent of this Website/Application. We have no right to control or manage the content of other websites or their privacy policies or legal compliance. You must be well aware that providing these links does not constitute any of our endorsement or approval, or any form of association with the link. We have no control over the personal data (if any) you provide to other websites. This Statement only applies to this Website/Application. We suggest you reading the privacy policies of those other websites before providing personal data to them.

  10. Third Party websites

    11. This Website/Application may contain links to other websites from time to time. These other websites are independent of this Website/Application. We have no right to control or manage the content of other websites or their privacy policies or legal compliance. You must be well aware that providing these links does not constitute any of our endorsement or approval, or any form of association with the link. We have no control over the personal data (if any) you provide to other websites. This Statement only applies to this Website/Application. We suggest you reading the privacy policies of those other websites before providing personal data to them.

  11. Disclosure of your personal data to third party
    1. The Company respects your privacy very much. We will take practical and reasonable measures to protect your personal data from accidental access, disclosure, misuse, processing, alteration, destruction or loss by unauthorized persons or third parties. Generally speaking, your personal data will be kept confidential. However, in the following circumstances, the Company may disclose your personal data to third parties, such as:
      1. Due to the operation of this Website/Application and/or for the purposes shown in the "Personal Information Collection Statement" and paragraph 6 above, to disclose to the staff, agents, consultants, auditors, contractors, suppliers or service providers (including but not limited to logistics service providers, information technology providers, marketing agents, social media, research companies, and service providers for development and maintenance, administration, data processing, digital storage or other similar services) who provide services or opinions to us;
      2. If the Company believes that for certain reasons, including but not limited to the implementation of the terms of this Statement, or other civil claim for compensation, it is necessary to take legal action against you, then your personal data will be handed over to an appropriate third party for identification and to take legal action against you;
      3. In accordance with any laws or court orders, subpoenas, judicial procedures, legal procedures or regulatory decisions, applicable within or outside Hong Kong, that require the retention, processing and/or disclosure of your personal data;
      4. The Company may be required to disclose your personal data in order to fulfil the agreement with you, or to protect the rights property or safety of the Company or its employees.
      5. Your personal data will be handed over to banks and financial institutions and/or payment collection agents in the course of collecting payment;
      6. In accordance with the circumstances as permitted by the "Terms and Conditions" when using this Service; and
      7. Your personal data will be disclosed to those third parties or government agencies assisting us in detecting, investigating, preventing or otherwise targeting fraud, security or technical issues.
      8. Your personal data will be disclosed to actual or prospective assignees, transferees or successors of any rights in relation to such information should we decide to sell any relevant part of the business.
    2. If we are involved in any actual or proposed business transfer, share transfer, sale of assets, reorganization, merger and acquisition, we will ensure the confidentiality of all personal data (if any) involved in such transactions and will notify you within a reasonable time before your personal data is transferred or becomes subject to a different privacy policy. An updated version of this Statement will be posted on this page in due course.
    3. In any of the above conditions, the above-mentioned third party must agree, when using your personal data, to abide by the Hong Kong Privacy Ordinance and (if applicable) the agreement signed with the Company, this Statement and the "Personal Information Collection Statement".
    4. If necessary, we will transfer your personal data to Hong Kong or outside the country where you are located for the above purposes (or purposes related to the above purposes). We will comply with the requirements of the Hong Kong Privacy Ordinance for such transfer.

  12. Information security
    1. We will keep the physical records of your personal data in a secure place with restricted access. The electronic records of your personal data will be stored in the servers of the Company. The servers will also be placed in a safe place and protected by adequate data security measures (for example: when necessary, sensitive data will be encrypted when transmitted on the internet). Only employees authorized by the Company (persons who have received training in handling personal data and have confidentiality obligations) can access these records and servers when they "need to know" and "need to use". We may use contractual methods or use the Company's reasonable efforts to ensure that third parties who use your personal data in accordance with this Statement and "Personal Information Collection Statement" will provide the same level of protection.
    2. We may store your personal data in actual locations and/or servers within or outside Hong Kong in accordance with our "Personal Information Collection Statement", and/or use it with third parties within or outside Hong Kong. However, no matter where your personal data is stored in any country/region, we will take all reasonable measures to ensure that your personal data is stored and processed safely, and we will use contractual methods or use the Company's reasonable efforts to ensure that any third party provides the same level of protection.
    3. We have used reasonable security measures to ensure that your personal data will not be disclosed, obtained, used and/or altered without authorization. However, no data that is transmitted over the internet or any other public network is completely secure. You should take all necessary measures to protect your password to prevent unauthorized reading, including logging out of your account (if applicable) when completing the use of a registered account while using a shared computer. We will not be liable for any loss, improper use, unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration or destruction of personal data that occurs beyond our control.

  13. Waiver

    14. We will disclose your personal data in accordance with legal requirements or in response to any government department, regulatory agency, law enforcement agency or request or order of the court with jurisdiction. We will not bear any responsibility for disclosing your personal data in this way. We may also need to take legal actions against you based on certain reasons, including but not limited to infringement of intellectual property rights or other civil claims. Your personal data will be handed over to appropriate collaborating third parties for identification and take legal action against you.

  14. For legal proceedings, etc.

    15. When it is necessary for us to use your personal data to take legal action to procure you to repay your debt owed to us, you agree that we can use the personal data you provide to confirm your identity and take legal action against you.

  15. Access and Correction of Information
    1. Pursuant to the Hong Kong Privacy Ordinance, you can request access to your personal data collected by the Company (if any) and request correction or deletion of your personal data from the Company's database, or object to our use of your personal data to send you marketing communications or withdraw your consent to our collection and processing of your personal data (however, this does not affect the lawfulness of any processing carried out prior to your request to withdraw your consent. If you withdrawing consent, we may therefore not be able to provide you with certain products or services, and if this is the case, we will inform you when you withdraw your consent
    2. If you need to exercise any of the above rights, please log in your account (if any) to do so, or fill in the "Data Access Request Form" (Form OPS003) (https://www.pcpd.org.hk/english/publications/files/Dforme.pdf, and mailed it to Sing Tao News Group Building, 7 Chun Cheong Street, Tseung Kwan O Industrial Estate, New Territories, Hong Kong, "Sing Tao Group", Marketing Department Officer to make the above request. On the cover, please indicate "Sing Tao Group Member View or Change of Personal Data". If possible, please indicate what kind of item, activity or membership you have provided personal data to the Company. If you have become a member, you can log in to your member account at any time to update, modify or correct your personal data.
    3. The above request will be processed as soon as possible in accordance with the provisions of the Hong Kong Privacy Ordinance, we may not be able to fully comply with your request for specific legal reasons (if applicable, we will notify you at the time of your request).
    4. We may ask you to provide detailed information about yourself upon receipt to ensure that you are the identified person for such personal data and we may charge a reasonable fee for processing your request for access to personal data.
    5. Please contact us before lodging any complaint to the government authority regarding our use of your personal data so that we can process your request in a timely manner.

  16. Direct Marketing
    1. We intend to use your personal data for direct marketing, but we must obtain your permission (which permission includes an indication of no objection) to use it for this purpose. With your consent, we may use your personal data (including your name, mobile phone number and email address, region, gender, age range, month of birth and service usage records) collected from you in accordance with the "Personal Information Collection Statement” provided to you when collecting your personal data for direct marketing of the following products and services:
      1. our products and services, and those of any company members of the Sing Tao Group (including companies listed in Annex 1);
      2. news, rewards, promotions and other activities provided by Sing Tao Group (including companies and publications listed in Annex 1); and
      3. We work with other merchants and business partners to jointly promote discounts and other benefits related to the following products, services or industries to users of this Service: entertainment, fashion clothing, jewelry, automobiles, media and public relations, telecommunications, retail, leisure and sports, food and drink, transportation and travel, software and games, education, environment, health and fitness, non-profit making, information technology, social networking, parent-child education.
    2. The above direct marketing may be conducted by us and/or by:
      1. Any member company within the Sing Tao Group;
      2. Our business partners who provide any of the products and services described in paragraph 16.1;
      3. Agents on behalf of us, any member companies of the Sing Tao Group or our business partners for providing the above-mentioned products and services;

        4. For this purpose, the personal data held by us as described in paragraph 16.1 may be provided for the benefit of all or any of the persons described in this paragraph for their use in direct marketing of such products and services.

    3. If you do not want us to use your personal data for direct marketing at any time, you can withdraw your consent at any time through the following free channels:
      1. Request the withdrawal of consent in accordance with the method shown in the relevant Personal Information Collection Statement;
      2. Mail it to ad Sing Tao News Group Building, 7 Chun Cheong Street, Tseung Kwan O Industrial Estate, New Territories, Hong Kong, "Sing Tao Group", Marketing Department Officer to make the above request. On the cover, please indicate "Stop receiving Sing Tao Group promotion materials"; or
      3. Together with your registered user name, contact number and email address information, email to enquiry@singtaonewscorp.com "Sing Tao Group" Marketing Department Officer, please mark "Stop receiving Sing Tao Group promotion materials".
    4. Unless otherwise specified in this statement, we will remove your personal data stored in our data system within fourteen (14) days after receiving your notice.

  17. Changes to Privacy Policy

    18. This Statement will be updated, revised or changed from time to time. Any changes, updates or amendments will take effect immediately when they are published on the this Website/Application. When required by law, we will notify and/or obtain your permission for certain major changes, updates or amendments. If you do not accept the changes, updates or amendments and/or provide your permission, then we may not be able to provide you with products and services. You should check the this Website/Application regularly to obtain updated versions of this Statement.

  18. Severability

    19. If certain terms of this Statement are found to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable by a court or a tribunal with jurisdiction, those terms will be severed, and the remaining terms of this Statement will continue to be valid and enforceable. The terms in this Statement are independent and separate terms.

  19. Applicable law and jurisdiction

    20. This Statement is governed by the laws of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and in accordance with to its interpretation, you and the Company agree to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

  20. Enquiry

    21. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Company via email address enquiry@singtaonewscorp.com.

Annex 1: Publications applying the Privacy Policy Statement (including but not limited to those listed below)

  1. 星島新聞集團官方網站 (Sing Tao News Corporation Official Website)
  2. 星島頭條 (Stheadline)
  3. stheadline.com 星島頭條網
  4. 頭條Blog City (Stheadline Blog City)
  5. 星島電子報 (Stepaper)
  6. 星島日報 (Sing Tao Daily)
  7. 頭條日報 (Headline Daily)
  8. 頭條POPnews (Headline POPnews)
  9. 星島網 (www.singtao.com)
  10. 星島地產網 (Stp.stheadline.com)
  11. 星島教育網 (Stedu.stheadline.com)
  12. 頭條金融網 (Hdfin.stheadline.com)
  13. 星島虎報海外地產 (Singtao Oversea Property)
  14. 英文虎報 The Standard
  15. 親子王 (Smart Parents)
  16. Oh! 爸媽 (Ohpama.com)
  17. 頭條揾工 (Headlinejobs)
  18. JobMarket
  19. EDU 進修生活 (EDUplus.hk)
  20. A-Performers A級人才
  21. 東周 (East Week)
  22. 東Touch (East Touch)
  23. JET
  24. PCM
  25. 車買家 (CAZBuyer)
  26. 星島出版 (Singtao Books / Sing Tao Publishing)
  27. East Touch Publishing Limited
  28. Plug Media Services Limited
  29. Sing Tao New Media Business Limited

Note: The above-mentioned list may be revised and/or updated from at any time by the Company with or without notice.

This Statement is last updated on: 30 June 2023