covered by the Ordinance. The effect of this amendment will be to allow for the rehabilitation of a larger number of ex-offenders. Article 14 Paragraph 4 46. Magistrates may now refer to a panel, the Young Offenders Assessment Panel, for advice before passing sentence on young offenders. The Panel, comprising representatives from the Social Welfare Department and the Correctional Services Department, considers detailed reports on the offender in question and makes a recommendation on sentencing, having regard to the need to promote the rehabilitation of the offender. Article 17 47. At the meeting to discuss the United Kingdom's second report on its dependent territories, members of the Human Rights Committee raised a number of supplementary questions concerning the right of privacy. The United Kingdom delegation replied to some of these questions immediately and undertook to answer in writing those for which it did not have sufficient information at the time. 48. The first question, to which only an interim reply was given, concerned data protection: in particular what kind of personal data could be stored in computers and who could hold such information (CCPR/C/SR.857, para. 31). 49. In Hong Kong, while there are no restrictions on the type of personal information which may be stored in computers, there are safeguards covering who should have access to personal information held in government computers. There are several ordinances which restrict the transfer of personal information to other departments or bodies. The Inland Revenue Ordinance, for instance, makes provision in section 4 for official secrecy in the handling of an individual's personal affairs. Where safeguards are not written into law, various levels of access security have been created in departments with large CCPR/C/58/Add.6 page 121 data bases, in order to control access to personal data stored therein. In the private sector, the implementation of such controls is voluntary. But 
**Analysis**
The text appears to discuss the laws and regulations regarding data protection and privacy in Hong Kong, specifically in the context of the United Kingdom's report on its dependent territories. It mentions ordinances, panels, and departments, which suggests a focus on governance and administration. The text does not seem to be related to economic development, natural resources, agriculture, industry, transport, international trade, health, education, employment, humanitarian aid, culture, or science and technology.

**Category**
Law, Governance