Policy Statement on the HKIE Websites
The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (the “HKIE”, the “Institution”) recognises its websites (“Websites”) as key resources for providing information to the members and the public, for general communication, for publicity and for administration. The Institution will ensure the proper use of its Websites in the fulfilment of its missions.
Purposes of the HKIE Websites
- Communication with members and the public: to serve as a gateway for the dissemination of information, collection of feedback and enquiries from members and the public.
- Publicity and promotion: to provide a channel for the Institution to publicise its events, seminars and services.
- Public access to the Institution’s information: to provide the most up-to-date information about its events/seminars and the work and services of the Institution.
- Administration and support services: to handle on-line applications and other support services.
- Collection of statistics: to determine web usage and Users’ opinions to facilitate better services.
- The content contains general information and is for reference only.
Privacy Policy
Under normal circumstances, no personally identifiable information will be collected from users (“Users”) to the HKIE’s Websites. However, where personal information is collected, through the use of means such as data collection forms, linkage of social platforms and any other means, the Institution will ensure that the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance is complied with. Please refer to our Privacy Policy Statement for details on personal data protection and right of access and correction.
Copyright
The HKIE Websites contain copyrighted materials and other proprietary information, including, but not limited to, text, software, photos, video, graphics, music and sound, and the entire contents of the Websites are copyrighted as a collective work under the copyright laws. The HKIE owns a copyright in the selection, coordination, arrangement and enhancement of such content, as well as in the content original to it.
The Institution will endeavour to seek prior permission from the rightful owner before publishing any copyrighted works, including weblinks, text, graphics, photographs, and sound and video recordings on the HKIE Websites.
By the same token, the HKIE Websites are protected by copyright and any attempt to modify, reproduce, link, publish, distribute, transmit, participate in the transfer or sale, create derivative works, or in any way exploit, in whole or in part, including the design elements, look and feel or layout of the Websites, without prior written permission of the Institution, will be deemed to have infringed the Institution’s copyright. Users may download copyrighted material for Users’ personal use only.
Except as otherwise expressly permitted under copyright law, no copying, redistribution, retransmission, publication or commercial exploitation of downloaded material will be permitted without the express permission of the Institution and the copyright owner. Any copies of materials made for a permitted purpose will include an acknowledgement that copyright belongs to the Institution, and no changes in or deletion of author attribution, trademark legend or copyright notice shall be made. Users acknowledge that they do not acquire any ownership rights by downloading copyrighted material. Users shall not upload, post or otherwise make available on the HKIE Websites any material protected by copyright, trademark or other proprietary right without the express permission of the owner of the copyright, trademark or other proprietary right and the burden of determining that any material is not protected by copyright rests with Users. Users shall be solely liable for any damage resulting from any infringement of copyrights, proprietary rights, or any other harm resulting from such a submission. By submitting materials to any public area of the HKIE Websites, Users automatically grant, or warrant that the owner of such material has expressly granted the Institution the royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable, non-exclusive right and license to use, reproduce, modify, adapt, publish, translate and distribute such material (in whole or in part) worldwide and/or to incorporate it in other works in any form, media or technology now known or hereafter developed for the full term of any copyright that may exist in such material. No compensation will be paid with respect to the use of such materials. Users also permit any other Users to access, view, store or reproduce the material for that Users’ personal use. Users hereby grant the Institution the right to edit, copy, publish and distribute any material made available on the HKIE Websites by Users.
Any concerns about the content on the HKIE’s Websites or copyright should be addressed to our webmaster at mlssupport@hkie.org.hk. Requests to have a hyperlink to the HKIE Websites included or removed should be addressed to the HKIE Secretariat at hkie-sec@hkie.org.hk.
Legal Considerations
The HKIE Websites are the property of the Institution. The Institution will not tolerate any acts of misuse of the HKIE Websites, infringement of laws, or any attempts to abuse its network or systems or tamper with its normal operation. The Institution reserves the right to take appropriate legal action against any person who performs, directly or indirectly, such acts. Such persons will also be liable for any loss or damage caused by the prohibited acts.
Disclaimer
By using the HKIE Websites Users agree to abide by the Terms of Use of the Websites.
The Institution expressly disclaims any responsibility, representation or warranty, to the extent permitted by law:
- in relation to the quality, operation, use, accuracy, or timeliness of the information contained within the HKIE Websites. The Websites are provided on an “as is” basis without warranties of any kind, either express or implied, including, but not limited to, warranties of title or implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose, other than those warranties which are implied by and incapable of exclusion, restriction or modification under the laws applicable to this agreement;
- that any access to the HKIE Websites will be uninterrupted or error free. Users expressly agree that use of the HKIE Websites is at users’ sole risk. Neither the Institution, its affiliates nor any of their respective employees, agents, third party content providers or licensors make any warranty as to the results that may be obtained from use of the HKIE Websites, or as to the accuracy, reliability or content of any information, service, or merchandise provided through websites;
- for any direct or indirect loss, damage or injury arising from any cause of use in connection with the HKIE Websites, including but not limited to any failure of performance, error, omission, interruption, deletion, defect, delay in operation or transmission, computer virus, communication line failure, theft or destruction or unauthorised access to, alteration of, or use of record, whether for breach of contract, tortious behaviour, negligence, or under any other cause of action. Users specifically acknowledge that the Institution is not liable for the defamatory, offensive or illegal conduct of other Users or third-parties and that the risk of injury from the foregoing rests entirely with Users;
- in relation to the content of external weblinks and webpages provided or mentioned in the Websites. References and links to any such sites shall not be taken as an endorsement or approval by the Institution of any opinions expressed or services provided at those sites;
- that in no event will the Institution, or any person or entity involved in creating, producing or distributing the HKIE Websites or the software, be liable for any damages, including, without limitation, direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential or punitive damages arising out of the use of or inability to use the Websites. Users hereby acknowledge that the provisions of this section shall apply to all contents in the HKIE Websites.
In addition to the terms set forth above, neither the Institution, nor its affiliates, information providers or content partners shall be liable regardless of the cause or duration, for any errors, inaccuracies, omissions, or other defects in, or untimeliness or incorrectness of, the information contained within the HKIE Websites, or for any delay or interruption in the transmission thereof to the Users, or for any claims or losses arising therefrom or occasioned thereby. None of the foregoing parties shall be liable for any third-party claims or losses of any nature, including, but not limited to, lost profits, punitive or consequential damages.
The content of the HKIE’s Websites and their policies are subject to change without notice. The Institution reserves the right to take appropriate action under its relevant policies and procedures where suspicion or allegation of breach occurs. These actions are subject to the sole discretion and final determination by the Institution and Users agree to raise no objection therein.
Enquiries:
Any queries on this policy statement should be addressed to hkie-sec@hkie.org.hk
Issued in September 2017