The lost data includes patients' names, identity card numbers and medical test reports.

He noted that it was not necessary for the technician to bring the USB out of the laboratory as he only needed to transfer patients' data from one computer to another. He did not comment whether the technician will be punished.

Society for Community Organization (Patients' Rights) (SCO) director Ho Hei-wah considered the loss of patients' data unacceptable and was surprised by the number of patients involved.

"It's unreasonable that the HA has no guidelines to instruct its staff on the handling of personal data," Ho said.

Hong Kong Public Doctors' Association (HKPDA) president Duncan Ho found the incidents regrettable, but asked the public not to be over-anxious.

He explained that sometimes it is necessary for doctors to store patients' data on portable devices. But taking a vast amount of data outside the hospital must require the approval of an ethics committee.

Legislator Kwok Ka-ki from the medical constituency said the HA should review its management as it did not take immediate action to combat the problem, resulting in more data loss.

He suggested the HA provide software with encryption and training to instruct the staff on data use and privacy.

The HKPDA president called on frontline medical staff to protect patients' data with caution.

He also called for an improvement to computer technology in hospitals.

(HK Edition 05/07/2008 page1)