The Greater Bay Area is one of the world’s most dynamic economic zones, yet within its borders, three distinct legal systems govern how banks handle customer data. This talk presents findings from our empirical study on personal data protection practices across the banking sectors in Hong Kong, Macau, and Mainland China. Our research reveals significant inconsistencies in how regional banks apply privacy policies, particularly regarding the treatment of personal and sensitive data, data processing protocols, and the protection of minors’ information. These discrepancies stem from deep-rooted differences in regional laws, regulations, and judicial interpretations, creating legal uncertainties that directly impede cross-border data transfer. Drawing on concrete evidence from all three jurisdictions, I will discuss the practical challenges of aligning disparate legal frameworks and propose the development of data protection standards for the banking industry. Such standards can serve as practical guidelines to resolve existing regulatory inconsistencies, enable compliant daily operations across the three regions, and ultimately foster the secure and seamless flow of data that the Greater Bay Area’s financial integration demands.

About the Speaker:

Dr. Li Du is an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Law and a Research Fellow at the Asia-Pacific Academy of Economics and Management, University of Macau, Macau SAR, where he also serves as Director of the Centre for Empirical Legal Studies and PhD Program Coordinator. He holds dual bachelor’s degrees in both clinical medicine and law (Wuhan University, China) and a Ph.D. in law (University of Alberta, Canada). His teaching and research interests include international law, food law, technology law and policy, and data protection law. Dr. Du has led many research projects on legal and ethical implications of novel and emerging technologies, e.g., synthetic biology, AI-enabled biomedical research, bio-agricultural products. He presents his research at international conferences frequently and publishes articles regularly in leading academic journals.

*CPD credits are available upon application and subject to accreditation by the Law Society of Hong Kong (currently pending).

Register here to attend the seminar on or before 18 May 2026, 12:00noon (Hong Kong Time).