Privacy Policy

TutorZone Privacy Policy

Last updated: 30 October 2026 (replaces the version dated 20 February 2025)

1. About this policy

TutorZone ("we", "us") operates www.tutorzone.com.hk and provides tutor matching, lesson arrangement and fee collection services. This policy is prepared in accordance with the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance (Cap. 486) of Hong Kong (the "Ordinance") and explains how we collect, use, transfer, retain and protect your personal data. It applies to tutors, parents and students, and to visitors to our website.

2. Personal data we collect

2.1 Tutors: name, gender, date of birth, contact number, WhatsApp number, email, residential and teachable districts, academic qualifications, public examination results, teachable subjects, fees, personal photograph, identity and qualification documents, bank details for payment, and communication records with us.

2.2 Parents and students: contact person name, telephone, email, student name, grade, school, tutoring requirements, districts, available times, budget, and WhatsApp conversation records.

2.3 Payments and reconciliation: payment records, receipts or transfer screenshots.

2.4 Automatically collected data: IP address, device and browser information, operating system, browsing and usage records, and cookies (including Google Analytics).

3. Purposes, whether obligatory, and consequences of not providing

Purpose	Obligatory?	Consequence of not providing
Tutor matching and referral	Yes	Matching cannot be carried out
Identity and qualification verification	Yes (including photograph)	Tutor registration cannot be completed
Lesson arrangement, surveys, invoices and payment reconciliation	Yes	Services cannot be provided
Customer service, complaints and dispute handling	Yes	Case cannot be followed up
Providing tutor information to parents for reference	Yes (part of the matching service)	Parents cannot verify tutor identity
Platform promotion (website and social media)	Optional	No effect on registration or matching
Direct marketing	Optional	No effect on registration or matching
Legal and tax compliance	Yes	We cannot meet legal requirements

4. Use of personal photographs

4.1 A tutor's photograph is used to verify identity and is required for registration.

4.2 During matching, the photograph may be provided to parents for reference in order to confirm the tutor's identity.

4.3 We may also use the photograph in our platform promotion, including TutorZone.com.hk and our social media. By uploading and submitting the photograph, you confirm that you understand the above purposes and consent to such use (see the notice at Step 12 of the registration form).

4.4 You may withdraw consent to promotional use in writing or via WhatsApp. After withdrawal, we will cease new promotional use and will remove or replace published material within 30 days.

4.5 We will not sell your photograph, nor authorise third parties to use it in their own advertising.

5. Direct marketing

5.1 We intend to use your name, contact number, email, WhatsApp number and photograph to send you information, offers and promotions about TutorZone and its partner education services.

5.2 We will not use your personal data for direct marketing without your consent. Your silence is not consent.

5.3 You may give consent in writing, by replying "agree" on WhatsApp, or by enabling it in your account settings.

5.4 If you do not consent, or change your mind later, you may reply "stop" or "unsubscribe" at any time. We will stop immediately, and this will not affect your use of the platform.

5.5 If we intend to provide your personal data to a third party for that third party's own direct marketing, we will first inform you of the intended purpose, the classes of data involved and the classes of persons to whom the data may be provided, and obtain your written consent. Where consideration is involved, we will tell you.

6. Sharing and recipients

6.1 Parents: on matching, we provide the tutor's name, qualifications, public examination results, teaching experience, photograph and fees.

6.2 Service providers: WhatsApp Cloud API (Meta), website and cloud hosting, Google Analytics, accounting and payment-related providers. We provide only what is necessary for the service.

6.3 Legal requirements: disclosure under court order, law enforcement or statutory requirement.

6.4 We do not sell your personal data.

7. Retention

Except for records that we are required by law to keep, we will retain your personal data until you request cancellation or deletion in writing. On receiving a written request, we will delete or anonymise the data within a reasonable time (normally 30 days).

Records required by law (for example invoices, receipts and payment records) are kept for 7 years for tax purposes and then destroyed.

Promotional material: removed within 30 days of your request.

We review retained personal data at least once a year and delete or anonymise records that are no longer needed.

8. Data security

8.1 We apply reasonable technical and organisational measures, including HTTPS encryption in transit, password and access controls, access limited to staff who need it, and confidentiality requirements on service providers.

8.2 No transmission over the internet is completely secure. If a data breach occurs that may result in unauthorised access to personal data, we will handle it and notify affected persons in accordance with the Ordinance and the guidance of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data.

9. Access and correction

9.1 You have the right to access and correct the personal data we hold about you. Please make a request in writing or by email to our Privacy Officer (admin@tutorzone.com.hk).

9.2 We will respond within 40 days of receiving the request and may charge a reasonable fee for processing an access request.

9.3 If we refuse an access or correction request, we will give reasons.

9.4 If you are dissatisfied with how we handle your data, you may complain to the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data (tel: 2827 2827, www.pcpd.org.hk).

10. Cookies and analytics

We use cookies and Google Analytics to understand usage and improve our services. You may disable cookies in your browser, although some functions may then be affected.

11. Children and student data

Where a student is under 18, their personal data should be provided by a parent or guardian, who agrees to this policy on the student's behalf.

12. Where data is stored

Your personal data is primarily stored in Hong Kong. Some service providers (for example Meta/WhatsApp, Google and cloud backup services) may process data outside Hong Kong. We use contractual and technical measures to ensure a comparable level of protection.

13. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy from time to time. The updated version will be published on our website with an effective date. For material changes, we will notify you by email or WhatsApp.

14. Language

The Traditional Chinese version of this policy prevails. The Simplified Chinese and English versions are translations; in the event of any discrepancy, the Traditional Chinese version governs.

15. Contact us

Privacy Officer: admin@tutorzone.com.hk

General enquiries: info@tutorzone.com.hk

Telephone: +852 6828 1809

Address: Hong Kong