Hong Kong’s Food and Environmental Hygiene Department has filed a police report over a suspected theft of data involving the personal information of about 100 residents.

The incident, which came to light on Thursday, centred on two internal files stored in the department’s office in Kowloon City that contained records of complaints from dozens of residents regarding environmental nuisances in the area.

The files included names and contact information such as phone numbers and email addresses of the individuals.

“The office area where the suspected theft occurred requires password access and is secured with a separate lock,” a department spokesman said.

“Given the potential criminal nature of this incident, we have reported it to the police and will fully cooperate with the investigation.”

The department said it also apologised to all affected individuals and notified the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data.