Study Buddy (Explorer): Hong Kong police to use drone patrols in urban areas

South China Morning Post

18-05-2025

Content provided by British Council
Read the following text, and answer questions 1-9 below:
[1] Hong Kong police will introduce drone patrols in urban areas in the second half of the year, the South China Morning Post has learned. A source revealed the drones would patrol areas with a concentration of old tenement buildings, such as Yau Tsim Mong and Sham Shui Po districts in Kowloon.
[2] 'One purpose will be to tackle burglaries that target buildings covered with scaffolding,' the insider said. 'Patrols will be launched in areas with more tenement buildings. Renovating ageing buildings requires the use of scaffolding, and that is an easy spot for burglars.' The source added that the force would also carry out trials of drone patrols at the city's border police district in the northern New Territories for security purposes.
[3] Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung told lawmakers last December that police would use drones for patrols if regulations allowed. The patrols would take place on set routes planned ahead of operations to avoid residential areas. During the meeting, Tang said police drones would feature flashing red and blue lights to 'show that they are on a mission' and display reflective labels or symbols for identification.
[4] The source said the drones were expected to fly around tenement buildings to monitor them for any suspicious people climbing scaffolding. The insider explained that officers watching the drone footage could recognise authorised repair works and remain in contact with the owners of buildings undergoing renovation work. If they saw people climbing the scaffolding, they would be able to clarify the situation.
[5] The source added that the urban drone patrol operations would comply with the city's privacy laws. The force has been using drones to broadcast messages in Sheung Sze Wan in Sai Kung and residential areas in Clear Water Bay, asking residents to remain vigilant against burglaries and report any suspicious activity in nearby bushland and forests, since July of last year. The messages are broadcast in Cantonese, English and Bahasa Indonesia.
[6] Police have also been using drones to detect suspicious people hiding in rough terrain at remote sites, and to monitor crowds and traffic flows at busy large-scale events. A separate source said drones had already been deployed in seasonal anti-burglary patrols in some rural areas in the city.
[7] There were 1,220 burglary cases last year, a drop of 9.9 per cent from 1,354 cases in 2023 and the second-lowest figure since records began in 1969. The force also said the burglary case detection rate last year was 38 per cent, the second-highest since records began in 1977.
Source: South China Morning Post, April 29
Questions
1. In paragraph 1, the drones will be used to patrol …
A. newly developed residential areas.
B. primary and secondary schools.
C. areas with many tenement buildings.
D. parks and recreational areas.
2. Based on your understanding of paragraph 2, why do burglars target ageing buildings undergoing renovations?
3. What is the purpose of the flashing red and blue lights on the drones, according to paragraph 3?
4. According to paragraph 4, … will watch the video taken by the drones.
A. residents
B. officers
C. building maintenance workers
D. volunteers
5. How many drones will be used, according to paragraph 4?
A. two
B. nine
C. 20
D. information not given
6. What has the police force been using drones for since last July, according to paragraph 5?
7. Find a word in paragraph 5 that means 'to be very careful and keep an eye out for any signs of danger or trouble'.
8. Decide whether the following statements, according to paragraphs 6 and 7, are True, False or the information is Not Given. Fill in ONE circle only for each statement. (4 marks)
(i) Drones are a new technology that the Hong Kong Police Force is trying out for the first time.
(ii) The police have caught at least five suspicious people with the help of drones.
(iii) Hong Kong police began recording burglaries in 1969.
(iv) The number of burglaries increased significantly last year compared to the year before.
9. In paragraph 7, what was the detection rate for burglary cases last year?
A. 9.9 per cent
B. 38 per cent
C. 1,220
D. 1,977
The city's police force is planning to use drones to patrol certain neighbourhoods to catch burglars. Photo: May Tse
Answers
1. C
2. because building renovation work requires scaffolding, which is an easy way for burglars to access the buildings (accept all similar answers)
3. to show 'that they are on a mission'
4. B
5. D
6. to broadcast messages to residents
7. vigilant
8. (i) F; (ii) NG; (iii) T; (iv) F
9. B