Hong Kong moves to limit personal information on company directors

HONG KONG (AP) - Hong Kong is proposing to restrict the amount of personal information available on company directors in the wake of investigative news reports that used the data to help expose fortunes linked to Chinese leaders.

Under the proposed changes, home addresses and ID card or passport numbers of directors would be obscured in filings starting from the first quarter of next year. The details could also be removed from historical filings on request.

Currently, anyone can access these details online for a nominal fee. The new law would restrict access to certain groups, including law enforcement, regulators and liquidators.

The provisions were contained in a consultation document submitted to the legislature this week. They have worried investors and the media as the changes could make it harder to document cases of corruption or malfeasance.