Privacy Statement

The privacy of the information you provide on this website is important to us.  The following Privacy Statement explains how we use and disclose the personal data that we collect from people who visit our websites and otherwise engage with us in online business activities. By using this website and submitting personal data, a visitor to our website is agreeing to Standard Accounting’s use of such data as described in this Privacy Statement. Our information handling practices are in accordance with current privacy and data protection legislation in Hong Kong. 

Method of data collection

“Personal data” means information about you and/or third parties you represent.  When you visit this website and in the course of providing services to you/your organisation/your employer, we may collect personal data either: directly where you are asked to provide data (if applicable) e.g. when you use any “Contact Us” features of the website (e.g. name, e-mail address and mailing address); or information we receive with your authorisation from third parties, such as: your employer; or indirectly, such as using cookies (as described below) or customising software to tailor the website to your preferences or to track your use of certain pages of the website (e.g. your internet protocol address) and other technical means to monitor your use of the website, or from third parties who provide us with information about you. 

We will only collect, hold, process, use, communicate and/or disclose such personal data, in accordance with this Privacy Statement.  If you are acting as an intermediary or otherwise on behalf of a third party or supply us with information regarding a third party (such as a friend, another employee, etc), you undertake that you are an authorised representative or agent of such third party and that you have obtained all necessary consents from such third party to the collection, processing, use and disclosure by us of their personal data.  Because we are collecting the third party’s data from you, you undertake to make the third party aware of all matters listed in this Privacy Statement, preferably by distributing a copy of this statement to them or by referring them to our website. 

Types of personal information we collect

Generally, we may collect the following types of Personal Information:

• Contact Information that allows us to communicate with you, such as your name, username, mailing address, telephone numbers, email address or other addresses that allow us to send you messages.
• Relationship Information that helps us do business with you, such as the types of products and services that may interest you, information on your company’s size, geographic locations, creditworthiness and demographics.

Standard Accounting’s intention is not to seek any sensitive information through our website unless legally required.  Sensitive information includes a number of types of data relating to: race or ethnic origin; political opinions; religious or other similar beliefs; trade union membership; physical or mental health; sexual life or criminal record.  We suggest that you do not provide sensitive information of this nature.  If you do wish to provide sensitive information for any reason, Standard Accounting accepts your explicit consent to use that information in the ways described in this Privacy Statement or as described at the point where you choose to disclose this information.

Use of personal information

Standard Accounting uses your Personal Information to:

• Fulfill your requests for products or services and for related activities, such as product and service delivery, customer service, account management, support and training and to provide other services related to your relationship with Standard Accounting;
• Determine if you are eligible for certain products, services or offers;
• Provide you with additional information that may be of interest, such as Standard Accounting news and announcements; and
• Manage our everyday business needs, such as payment processing and financial account management, product development, contract management, website administration, fulfillment, analytics, security and fraud prevention, corporate governance, reporting and legal compliance, and business continuity.

Cookies and other Data Collection Technologies

When you visit our website or use our mobile applications, we collect certain Transaction Information by automated means, using technologies such as cookies, pixel tags, browser analysis tools, server logs and web beacons.

For example, when you visit our website, we place cookies on your computer. Cookies are small text files that websites send to your computer or other Internet-connected device to uniquely identify your browser or to store information or settings in your browser. Cookies allow us to recognize you when you return. They also help us provide a customized experience and enable us to detect certain kinds of fraud. In many cases, you can manage cookie preferences and opt-out of having cookies and other data collection technologies used by adjusting the settings on your browser. All browsers are different, so visit the “help” section of your browser to learn about cookie preferences and other privacy settings that may be available.

We collect many different types of information from cookies and other technologies. For example, we may collect information from the device you use to access our website, your operating system type, browser type, domain, and other system settings, as well as the language your system uses and the country and time zone where your device is located. Our server logs also record the IP address assigned to the device you use to connect to the Internet. An IP address is a unique number that devices use to identify and communicate with each other on the Internet. We may also collect information about the website you were visiting before you came to Standard Accounting and the website you visit after you leave our site.

In many cases, the information we collect using cookies and other tools is only used in a non-identifiable way, without any reference to Personal Information. For example, we use information we collect about all website users to optimize our websites and to understand website traffic patterns.

In some cases, we do associate the information we collect using cookies and other technology with your Personal Information. This Privacy Statement applies to the information when we associate it with your Personal Information.

Disclosure of data to third parties

Information will not be disclosed to third parties except when required by law, when we have your explicit consent where requesting such consent is permitted or in cases where we have engaged the third party specifically to assist with our company’s activities.  Any such third parties whom we engage will be bound contractually to keep all information confidential.

Data retention

Information that is kept by us will be destroyed or permanently de-identified after a reasonable period from the time when it becomes outdated or is no longer required.  We may however, retain copies of such information for internal record keeping purposes and for compliance with applicable law or professional standards.

Security of your information

The information submitted is stored in either email boxes or databases.  Standard Accounting has implemented generally accepted standards of technology and operational security in order to protect personal data from loss, misuse, alteration or destruction. Only authorised Stanadard Accounting personnel are provided access to personal data and they have agreed to ensure confidentiality of this information.

Please note that you should also take steps to protect yourself, especially online. When you register at Standard Accounting websites, choose a strong password, and do not use the same password that you use on other sites. Do not share your password with anyone else. Standard Accounting will never ask you for your password in an unsolicited phone call or in an unsolicited e-mail. Also remember to sign out of the website and close your browser window when you have finished your work. This is to ensure that others cannot access your Personal Information and correspondence if others have access to your computer.

Third Party Privacy

This Privacy Statement only addresses the use and disclosure of information by Standard Accounting. Other websites that may be accessible through this website have their own privacy policies and data collection, use and disclosure practices. When you link to these websites, Standard Accounting’s privacy practices no longer apply.  We encourage visitors to review each website’s privacy policy before disclosing any personal data.

Transfer of business

This Privacy Statement discusses Standard Accounting’s information practices in the ordinary course of its business.  Standard Accounting reserves the right to transfer all data in its possession to a successor-in-interest to its business or assets.

For Job Application

If you have applied for employment with Standard Accounting, the Personal Information submitted with your job application will be added to our database and used for recruitment and other customary human resources purposes. For example, we may send you information about new job opportunities within Standard Accounting as well as other career development resources.

Changes to this statement

From time to time, we may update this Privacy Statement to reflect new or different privacy practices. We will place a notice online when we make material changes to this the Privacy Statement.

Contact for Privacy Concerns

Please contact us if you have any questions, comments or complaints if you believe that Standard Accounting has not handled your personal information properly or that it has breached its privacy obligations, your complaint may be directed at Standard Accounting’s designed contacts at [email protected]. We will investigate any complaint and notify the individual within reasonable timeframe of the outcome of the investigation.