The Bangkok Post reports that the Hong Kong government has shelved the Companies Ordinance, which would have restricted access to information about company directors, including their home addresses. The ordinance has been highly contested by journalists and others claiming it infringed on press rights and transparency. "We hope to give more room for the community to reach a consensus," said a Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau spokeswoman. In South China Morning Post, Dieter Yih, president of the Law Society, noted that the current debate over “the right of access to information balanced against the desire for personal privacy” was not considered when the society drafted the ordinance, and recommended the government conduct a further consultation on this point.
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