Terms and Conditions
Last updated on August 22, 2018
PLEASE READ THE PRIVACY POLICY AND THE FOLLOWING TERMS AND CONDITIONS BEFORE USING THIS WEBSITE. BY SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION OR REGISTRATION. BY USING AND CONTINUING ACCESS THIS WEBSITE, YOU ARE CONSIDERED TO UNCONDITIONALLY AGREE TO AND ACCEPT THE PRIVACY POLICY STATEMENT, THE RULES OF CONTEST AS WELL AS THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET FORTH BELOW.
Copyright
The content available on this website, including but not limited to all text, graphics, drawings, diagrams, photographs, video clips and compilation of data or other materials are subject to copyright owned by the Rational Communication Educational Society Limited (“the RCES”). Except as expressly permitted herein or where prior written authorization is obtained from the RCES, any reproduction, adaptation, distribution, dissemination or making available of such copyright works to the public is strictly prohibited.
Permission is granted for users to download the materials, provided that this is solely for personal or non-commercial internal use, and provided further that this copyright notice is downloaded at the same time. Users should note that this permission only applies to the RCES copyright materials. Where third party copyrights are involved, an appropriate notice will appear in this website.
Disclaimer
The information contained in this website is compiled by the Rational Communication Educational Society Limited (“the RCES”) for general information only. Whilst the RCES endeavours to ensure the accuracy of this general information, no statement, representation, warranty or guarantee, express or implied, is given as to its accuracy or appropriateness for use in any particular circumstances.
This website can also contain information contributed by others over whom, and in respect of which, the RCES may have no influence. Users may link from this website to sites provided by others. The RCES expressly states that it has not approved or endorsed the information provided by others on this website or any other sites linked to this website and the RCES accepts no responsibility or liability (howsoever caused) for such information.
The RCES is not responsible for any loss or damage whatsoever arising out of or in connection with any information including data or programmes on this website. The RCES reserves the right to omit, add, suspend, edit, remove all information compiled by the RCES in this website at any time in its absolute discretion without giving any reason or prior notice, or alter the presentation, substance, or functionality of this website without notice to you. Users are responsible for making their own assessment of all information contained in this website and are advised to verify such information by making reference, for example, to original publications and obtaining independent advice before acting upon it.
User’s Conduct
As a condition of your access or use of this website, you must not:
- Trespass, break into, access, use or attempt to trespass, break into, access or use any parts of our servers, and/or any data areas for which you have not been authorised by us; or
- Restrict or inhibit any other user from using and enjoying the website; or
- Post or transmit any unlawful, fraudulent, libellous, defamatory, obscene, pornographic, profane, threatening, abusive, harmful, hateful, offensive, or otherwise objectionable or unreasonable Information of any kind, including without limitation any transmissions constituting or encouraging conduct that may constitute a criminal offence, give rise to civil liability, or otherwise violate any local, state, national or foreign law; or
- Post or transmit any advertisements, solicitations, chain letters, pyramid schemes, junk email, investment opportunities or schemes or any other unsolicited communications or messages (commercial or otherwise), or engage in spamming or flooding; or
- Post or transmit any Information or software which contains any virus, trojan horse, worm or other harmful component or any other computer code, files or programs designed to interrupt, destroy or limit the functionality of this website or any computer software or hardware; or
- Post, publish, transmit, reproduce, distribute or in any way exploit any Information obtained through this website for commercial purposes; or
- Upload, post, publish, transmit, reproduce, or distribute in any way, Information obtained through this website which is protected by copyright, or other proprietary right, or create derivative works with respect thereto, without the prior written permission of the copyright owner or rightholder or otherwise infringe any patent, trademark, trade secret or other intellectual property rights or other rights of third parties; or
- Stalk or otherwise harass or violate the legal rights of others; or
- Collect or store personal data about other users.
You have no rights in or to the Information available on this website and you will not use the Information available on this website in any manner or for any purpose, except as permitted by laws or under these Terms of Use.
Prohibition of Access
We reserve the right at all times to prohibit, deny or suspend your access to this website or any part thereof immediately and without notice, where we consider it unacceptable or we are of the opinion that you have breached any of the terms contained in the Terms of Use or that such prohibition or denial is appropriate, desirable or necessary in our sole discretion.
Links to and from the Website
The links on this website may take you to other sites that are not under our control. Links to other websites do not constitute an endorsement by us of such websites or the Information, products, advertising or other materials available on those websites. You acknowledge and agree that we have no responsibility for the content, accuracy or availability of any Information provided by linked websites or liable for any loss or damage caused by, arising out of or in connection with use of or reliance on any Information, materials, goods or services available on or through any such websites.
Privacy Policy & Statement
Last updated on August 22, 2018
Rational Communication Educational Society Limited (“the RCES”) pledges to meet fully with the requirements of the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance, Chapter 486 of the Laws of Hong Kong. In doing so, the RCES will ensure compliance by its officers and staff to the strictest standards of security and confidentiality in respect of all personal information and data submitted by users via http://rceshk.com and its sub-domains (collectively, “websites”) and the RCES will not, subject to the terms herein, release such information to anyone without the prior consent of the relevant user(s) of the websites (whether registered or not) (“Users(s)”) except to the authorized persons listed under the section headed “Disclosure or Transfer of Data”.
Users are strongly recommended to read this Privacy Policy carefully to have an understanding of the RCES’s policy and practices with regard to the treatment of personal information and data provided by the Users on the websites. This Privacy Policy is applicable to both registered and unregistered Users, and the terms herein may be updated, revised, varied and/or amended from time to time as the RCES may deem necessary and/or appropriate.
If Users have questions or concerns regarding this Privacy Policy, they should contact Project Officer of the RCES, whose contact details are set out under the section headed “Enquiries” below.
Purpose of Collection of Personal Data
In the course of using the Websites, Users may disclose or be asked to provide personal information and/or data. In order to have the benefit of and enjoy various services offered by the Websites, it may be necessary for Users to provide the RCES with their personal information and/or data. Although Users are not obliged to provide the information and/or data as requested on the Websites, the RCES will not be able to render certain services on the Websites in the event that Users fail to do so.
The RCES’s purposes for collection of the information and data on the Websites include but not limited to the following:
(a) for the daily operation of the services provided to Users;
(b) to assist Users applying for job vacancy of the contest;
(c) to provide Users with various services offered by the Websites and promotional and marketing materials;
(d) to handle and follow up enquiries, requests and complaints from Users;
(e) to contact Users regarding administrative notices and communications relevant to his/her use of the Websites and to respond to Users’ inquiry or request;
(f) to assist the RCES with developments for future marketing and promoting purposes or other internal purposes;
(g) to allow Users to enjoy their benefits as members of the websites by enrolling for special events and promotions hosted by the RCES and or its affiliates and or partner of the RCES;
(h) to identify Users who have enjoyed their benefits as members of the websites by receiving and using marketing promotional materials;
(i) to facilitate the RCES and/or its affiliates to use the Users’ personal data for the purposes relating to the provision of services offered by the RCES and marketing services and/or special event of the RCES and/or its affiliates; and
(j) to obtain statistics about Users to analyze usage of the websites in order to help its further development for internal use;
(k) for academic research;
(l) for purposes other than the above mentioned which are related to the RCES’s and/or its affiliates’ provision of their product and/or services as the RCES may deem fit.
If a User is under the age of 18, the RCES would strongly recommend him/her to seek prior consent from a person with parental responsibility for him/her, e.g. parent or guardian, who may contact the responsible Project Officer whose contact details are set out under the section, headed “Enquiries” for registering the User as member of the websites.
The RCES strives to only collect personal data which are necessary and adequate but not excessive in relation to the purposes set out hereinabove.
If the RCES requires the use of your personal data for a purpose other than those set out hereinabove, we may request your prescribed consent to the same. If you are a minor, the prescribed consent should be given by your parent or guardian.
Collection of Personal Data
The RCES may collect personal information and/or data about a User such as his/her name, log-in ID and password, address, class, class number, email address, phone number, age, gender, date of birth, nationality, education level and work experience that is/are not otherwise publicly available. Occasionally, the RCES may also collect additional personal information and/or data from a User in connection with contests, surveys, or special offers.
Only duly authorized staff of the RCES will be permitted to access Users’ personal information and data, and the RCES shall not release such personal information and data to any third parties save and except for the circumstances listed out under the section headed “Disclosure or Transfer of Data”.
Disclosure or Transfer of Data
The RCES agrees to take all practicable steps to keep all personal information and data of Users confidential and/or undisclosed, subject to the following.
Generally speaking, the RCES will only disclose and/or transfer Users’ personal information and/or data to the RCES’s personnel and staff for the purpose of providing services to Users and organization of the RCES who have made specific requests for such information and/or data with Users’ prior consent. However, the RCES may disclose and/or transfer such information and/or data to third parties under the following circumstances:
(a) where the information and/or data is disclosed and/or transferred to any third party suppliers or external service providers who have been duly authorized by the RCES to use such information and/or data and who will facilitate the services on the Websites, under a duty of confidentiality;
(b) where the information and/or data is disclosed and/or transferred to any agents, affiliates or associates of the RCES who have been duly authorized by the RCES to use such information and/or data;
(c) where permitted under the “Terms and Conditions”;
(d) where the RCES needs to protect and defend its rights and property;
(e) where the RCES considers necessary to do so in order to comply with the applicable laws and regulations, including without limitation compliance with a judicial proceeding, court order, or legal process served on the Websites;
(f) where the RCES deems necessary in order to deliver the products and services that we offer and cultivate a positive user experience; and
(g) where the RCES deems necessary in order to maintain and improve the services on the Websites.
Personal data collected via the Websites may be transferred, stored and processed in any country in which the RCES or its affiliates operate. By using the Websites, Users are deemed to have agreed to, consented to and authorized the RCES to disclose and/or transfer their personal information and data under the circumstances stated above, as well as to any transfer of information (including the Information) outside of the Users’ country.
Access to or request for correction of data
Any User is entitled to request access to or make amendments to his/her own personal information and data kept with the RCES by contacting Project Officer of the RCES at whose contact details are set out under the section headed “Enquiries”. Subject to the paragraph below, the RCES may alternatively edit, amend or delete his/her personal information and data at any time by logging into the Websites.
In the event that a User wishes to access or amend his/her personal information and data, the RCES may request him/her to provide personal details in order to verify and confirm his/her identity.
The RCES will not retain your personal data if Users request the RCES to cease his/her membership with the RCES. We will only keep your personal data for as long as necessary to fulfill the purpose for which the data was collected as set out under the section headed “Purpose of Collection of Personal Data”.
Please note that if you do make a data access request and if we deem the same as appropriate, only a copy of your personal data would be provided.
Cookies and Log Files
The RCES does not collect any personally identifiable information from any Users whilst they visit and browse the Websites. When Users access the Websites, the RCES records their visits only and do not collect their personal information or data. If cookies are deployed for collecting personally identifiable information in the future, we will make separate notices accordingly.
The Websites’ server software will also record the domain name, server, address and track the pages Users visit and store such information in “cookies”, and gather and store information like internet protocol (IP) addresses, browser type, referring/exit pages, operating system, date/time stamp, and clickstream data in log files.
Links to Other Websites
The Websites may provide links to other websites which are not owned or controlled by the RCES. Personal information and data from Users may be collected on these other websites when Users visit such websites and make use of the services provided therein. Where and when Users decide to click on any advertisement or hyperlink on the Websites which grants Users access to another website, the protection of Users’ personal information and data which are deemed to be private and confidential may be exposed in these other websites.
This Privacy Policy is only applicable to the Websites. Users are reminded that this Privacy Policy grants no protection to Users’ personal information and data that may be exposed on websites other than the Websites, and the RCES is not responsible for the privacy practices of such other websites. Users are strongly recommended to refer to the privacy policy of such other websites.
Testimonials
The RCES posts Users’ testimonials on the Websites, which may contain personally identifiable information such as the Users’ names. The RCES does obtain the Users’ consent prior to posting the testimonials to post their names along with their testimonials.
Security
The security of Users’ personal information and data is important to the RCES. The RCES will always strive to ensure that Users’ personal information and data will be protected against unauthorized access. The RCES has implemented appropriate electronic and managerial measures in order to safeguard, protect and secure Users’ personal information and data.
All personal information and data provided by Users are only accessible by the authorized personnel of the RCES or its authorized third parties, and such personnel shall be instructed to observe the terms of this Privacy Policy when accessing such personal information and data. Users may rest assured that their personal information and data will only be kept for as long as is necessary to fulfill the purpose for which it is collected. Registered Users should safeguard his/her unique Username and Password by keeping it secret and confidential and never share these details with anyone.
The RCES uses a third party service provider to facilitate the electronic assessment system on the Websites.
The RCES follows generally accepted industry standards to protect the personal information and data submitted by Users to the Websites, both during transmission and once the RCES receives it. However, no method of transmission over the Internet, or method of electronic storage, is 100% secure. Therefore, while the RCES strives to protect Users’ personal information and data against unauthorized access, the RCES cannot guarantee its absolute security.
Retention of Personal Data
Once the RCES has obtained a User’s personal information and/or data, it will be maintained securely in the RCES’s system. Subject to legal requirements, the personal information and/or data of Users will be retained by the RCES after deactivation of the relevant service until Users request the RCES to erase his/her own personal information and/or data from the RCES’s database or to terminate his/her membership of the Websites.
Changes in this Privacy Policy
The RCES reserves the right to update, revise, modify or amend this Privacy Policy in the following manner at any time as the RCES deems necessary, so Users are strongly recommended to review this Privacy Policy frequently. If the RCES decides to update, revise, modify or amend this Privacy Policy, the RCES will post those changes to this webpage.
Confidentiality
Adjudicators, assistant adjudicators, officer or assistant offer have a duty not to disclose confidential information about the Contest, the rubrics or other Competition documents. By submitting an application, you indicate that you had the opportunity to review, and agree to comply with, all the Rules and Regulations set forth in the Contest Handbook or Overview. For more details, please refer to the handbook and contest overview of The Twelfth Speaking Contest for Hong Kong Students.
Enquiries
Should you have any enquiries, please email at info@rces.hk, telephone at +852 3521-0504 or write to us at the following address:
Rational Communication Educational Society Limited
P.O. Box.548, Tai Po Post Office