Last updated on 2024.06.13
We regard the privacy of our users as very important and any personal information which you provide to us will be dealt with in accordance with this Privacy Policy. We are a Data User pursuant to the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance (Cap 486 of the Laws of Hong Kong). This Privacy Policy applies to the HOW DEPARTMENT mobile application (the “App”), and when you share your Personal Data with us through the App. It explains how we may collect, use and disclose your Personal Data, including our obligations and your rights in respect of our dealings with your Personal Data, consistent with our commitment to providing you with a satisfactory and helpful shopping experience.
Please read this Policy carefully. By visiting the App and/or using the products and services made available to you through the App, you are agreeing to this Privacy Policy which shall apply to all information that we have about you, and that any dispute over privacy is subject to this Privacy Policy and our Terms and Conditions of the App.
HOW LIMITED (“we”, “us”, “our” and “Company”) pledges to comply with the Hong Kong Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance (Cap. 486). We understand the importance of protecting your Personal Data, and appreciate your confidence that we will respect privacy in a careful and sensible manner.
1.1 Personal data (“Personal Data”) includes your name, residential address, email address, phone number, gender, age, credit or debit card data, and any other information you may supply us for identification purposes.
1.2 The App is intended for use by adults. We do not knowingly collect any Personal Data from children under the age of 18. Those under the age of 18 should not use the Site/App or provide us with any Personal Data.
1.3 If you provide us with Personal Data about another person, you represent and warrant to us that you have obtained all necessary consents from that other person to permit us to use that Personal Data as set forth in this Privacy Policy.
2.1 We may ask you to provide Personal Data when you use the App, including when you voluntarily register or update your existing profile with us, subscribe to catalogues or newsletters, email us, use our customer services, enter promotional opportunities or make any other submissions to our App.
2.2 Please note that it is mandatory for you to provide certain categories of Personal Data (as specified at the time of collection). In the event that you do not provide any Personal Data marked as mandatory, we may not be able to process your request, or provide you with our products or services.
2.3 We may use cookies or similar technologies on the App (as case may be) to help us manage your user experience, and allow for customization of the pages presented to you when you return to the App. We do not collect or store Personal Data from you under this circumstance.
3.1 We collect and use Personal Data about you for the following purposes:
4.1 We take reasonable steps to make sure that the Personal Data we collect is protected from unauthorised access, disclosure, misuse or loss. We will collect your Personal Data only with your knowledge and consent and use and disclose such Personal Data in due care, as set out in the Privacy Policy unless otherwise required or permitted by law.
4.2 Our Information Security Department is responsible for ensuring your Personal Data is protected and strictly used in accordance with Clause 3. We take your privacy seriously. We have implemented security safeguards appropriate to the sensitivity of the information, including the use of the following measures:
4.3 We may share your Personal Data among our Group (including our parent, subsidiary and associated companies), so that we can notify you about products, services, rewards and special offers you might enjoy. These notifications may be given to you by postal mail, email, telephone, text message, automatic dialing-announcing device or other means using the contact information that you provide to us.
4.4 Please note that we cannot be responsible for any Personal Data you share or post by way of submissions to the public spaces of the App. These are public areas and may be consulted or viewed by anyone visiting these sections of the App and, as such, falls outside this Privacy Policy.
5.1 We will keep your Personal Data as accurate, complete and up-to-date as necessary and reasonably possible for the purposes for which it is to be used in accordance with Clause 3.
5.2 We will only retain your Personal Data as long as necessary for purposes listed in Clause 3 or as required by law.
5.3 Please remember that the internet is not a secure medium. Communications over the internet are not secure unless they have been encrypted. We have put in place suitable electronic procedures to safeguard and secure the information provided by you. We use industry standard encryption technologies when collecting or transferring customer credit card information exchanged with the App - all your card details are passed from secure payment gateway using secure sockets layer (SSL) encryption. The payment gateway providers use secure sockets layer (SSL) encryption system. All other information transferred is conducted through a secure connection.
5.4 Where we have given you (or where you have chosen) a password which enables you to access certain parts of the App, you are responsible for keeping this password confidential. We ask you not to share your password with anyone. All information provided through the App will be processed by staff operating in the HK who work for us. Such staff may be engaged in, among other things, the processing of your payment details and the provision of support services. By submitting your personal information, you agree to this transfer, storing or processing. We will take all steps reasonably necessary to ensure that your data is treated securely in accordance with this Privacy Policy.
6.1 We may disclose or transfer (whether in Hong Kong SAR or abroad) your Personal Data to third parties, including our parent, subsidiary and associated companies. In particular, we may share your Personal Data with third party contractors or service providers (“Third Party”) who help with our business operations, such as suppliers of products, financial transactions, logistics services, transportation, reward programmes, purchase order management, customer service, fraud investigations, and/or analysis of any transactions made through the App.
6.2 Please be assured that we shall implement contractual or other appropriate means to ensure compliance by such Third Party with this Privacy Policy and all applicable privacy laws in Hong Kong when we disclose your Personal Data to Third Party.
6.3 We may share aggregate data that does not allow you to be identified with Third Party for various purposes (including marketing and advertising), and may use this data in order to better understand your needs and to improve and adapt our products and services.
6.4 If we consider it necessary to share your Personal Data with Third Party other than for the reasons specified in this Clause, we will notify you and will only proceed with your consent/ indication of no objection.
6.5 In the event of suspected fraud, threat to personal safety, or violation against our Terms and Conditions or relevant laws, we shall take prompt and all appropriate measures to investigate and address such risks.
6.6 By providing Personal Data through the App or otherwise to us, you expressly consent that we are only subject to this privacy policy and all applicable privacy laws in Hong Kong when we deal with your Personal Data, and authorise us to use and disclose your information as described. Please do not proceed if you do not agree on the abovementioned Personal Data usage.
6.7 If you are not in Hong Kong, we strongly recommend you to understand the relevant privacy laws in your region before using the App. We shall not be liable for any claim, loss and/or compensation against us for any alleged breach of data privacy obligations, other than those in this Privacy Policy and all applicable privacy laws in Hong Kong.
6.8 Your personal data may be transferred and/or processed in countries outside the Hong Kong SAR. We will ensure that transfers outside Hong Kong, are subject to adequate safeguard as data protection standards in those countries may differ from those in Hong Kong.
7.1 We may make changes to this Privacy Policy from time to time. You should check the App frequently to view recent changes of our Privacy Policy.
8.1 You have the right of access to or correction of, and to withdraw your consent concerning your Personal Data held by us.
8.2 If you have any questions regarding this Privacy Policy, or if you wish to access or change your Personal Data, or withhold the information from us, you may send your request in writing to the following:
Email: mayiknow@how-dept.com
8.3 We reserve the right to charge you a reasonable fee for the processing of any data access request.
9.1 Notwithstanding the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Ordinance (Cap. 623), and/or any comparable law in any jurisdiction, this Personal Privacy is personal to and is made solely for the benefit of you and us, and shall not create or give any rights to, or purport to confer any benefits on any third parties whatsoever. The application of the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Ordinance (Cap. 623), and/or any comparable law in any jurisdiction, giving to or conferring on third parties, the right to enforce any term of this Personal Privacy, is expressly excluded, and no term of this Personal Privacy is, or is intended to be, enforceable by any person not being a party to it. The rights of the parties to terminate, rescind, or agree any amendment, waiver, variation or settlement under or relating to this Personal Privacy, are not subject to the consent of any third party.
This document has English and Chinese versions. Should there be any discrepancy between the English and Chinese versions, the English version shall prevail.