Latest news with #SmartView
South China Morning Post
6 days ago
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong police could deploy facial recognition technology in CCTV system by end of year
Hong Kong police will incorporate facial recognition technology into their surveillance cameras as early as the end of this year, enabling officers to identify suspects and missing people in real time, the force has revealed. Senior Superintendent Eric Leung Ming-leung said that from the end of July, the force would also expand its 'SmartView' surveillance camera installation programme to mobile cameras installed on 60 patrol cars that would be able to identify vehicles and licence plates. 'We will see if it's possible to use facial recognition in our SmartView systems by the end of this year,' Leung, of the force's operations wing, revealed. Police launched the SmartView project in April last year after conducting a pilot scheme to install 15 sets of cameras in Mong Kok in March. As of Wednesday, the force had installed 3,162 cameras across the city. Leung said the force aimed to install no fewer than 2,000 sets of surveillance cameras each year from 2025 to 2027. These roughly 6,000 sets, containing more than 15,000 individual cameras, would be installed across Hong Kong by the end of 2027. He said police would install the cameras on road signs and traffic lights, and also erect pillars for more sets this year.
RTHK
6 days ago
- RTHK
Police eye year-end facial recognition use in CCTVs
Police eye year-end facial recognition use in CCTVs Senior superintendent Eric Leung (centre) says facial recognition can be activated once the force's backend system is ready. Photo: RTHK Police have revealed plans to adopt facial recognition in their citywide surveillance network by the end of this year, with officers looking for "strategic locations" to deploy the technology to investigate crimes. Eric Leung, a senior superintendent from the force's operations wing, said many new security cameras were already equipped with facial recognition functions. "We are identifying what the strategic locations we need to install [the cameras at]... When our backend is ready, then facial recognition can be activated," he said. "If there is a suspect or if there is a high-risk missing person, you have his or her identity or facial features, you can input that data into a system, and ask the system if any camera captures that person, to alert the investigation officers." The force has been setting up surveillance cameras across Hong Kong since last year under an initiative called "SmartView". Apart from stationary vantage points, the devices were also installed on about 60 police vehicles as of July. Discussions were also under way for the force to gain access to video surveillance feeds from the Transport Department, the Housing Department, and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, as well as the MTR Corporation. Police said they would begin incorporating surveillance footage from other government departments and organisations in the coming months, with hopes of completing the process in "two to three years". "Our system, with other systems, may have different specifications. We may need some upgrades or install some equipment…so that both systems can be integrated," Leung noted. The next step, according to the senior superintendent, is to study the feasibility of incorporating surveillance feeds of public places captured by private properties such as malls, industrial buildings and commercial towers. He was confident the scheme would receive support and cooperation from the private sector.
RTHK
21-07-2025
- RTHK
CCTV cameras effective in stopping crime: Joe Chow
CCTV cameras effective in stopping crime: Joe Chow Joe Chow said the surveillance cameras have effectively reduced the number of crimes. Commissioner of Police Joe Chow says surveillance cameras have effectively prevented street crime in the city. In an interview with Sing Tao Daily, Chow said the police launched the 'SmartView' programme in April last year to install surveillance cameras in busy public areas. So far, police officers have solved 351 cases based on the camera footage, which is an inspiring result, he said. Chow also said the number of street crimes including car theft, pickpocketing, robbery, wounding and arson has fallen by up to 42.5 percent since the cameras were installed. According to the force's plan, 2,000 CCTV cameras will be installed this year. Chow said the force will install another 2,000 cameras next year, adding that he aims to connect the police CCTV system with those at government departments and the MTR by 2026 or 2027. The police also hope to introduce facial recognition and artificial intelligence in the CCTV system in the future, he said. In addition to CCTV cameras, the police are also deploying drones to enhance efficiency, Chow said.
South China Morning Post
19-06-2025
- South China Morning Post
Some legal ramifications surrounding use of AI in police surveillance
Since 2024, the government has begun an initiative named 'SmartView' to install closed-circuit television in public places with high crime rates and pedestrian flow to assist in crime prevention, detection, and the preservation of public order and safety. The government and police have also indicated plans to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) facial recognition technology into these CCTV systems in coming years. Similar plans extend towards traffic offence enforcement, with the Automatic Traffic Enforcement System (ATES) being implemented recently in Central and Kwun Tong, where CCTV systems, with the help of AI, analyse the dynamics of vehicles in real time, identify offences, and record traffic licence plates and/or contraventions of offending vehicles, as well as providing police with suggestions for traffic diversions, and targeted enforcement actions. These initiatives are consistent with many other jurisdictions that have also begun deploying AI facial recognition technology for these exact same purposes in recent years. For example, in the United Kingdom, the Metropolitan Police in London utilise facial recognition technology for the prevention and detection of crime. This includes live facial recognition, which involves cameras targeted at a specific area, with images captured, streamed and compared to a watch list. They have also implemented a retrospective facial recognition system, which allows authorities to search CCTV, images, or short videos against a custody image database.
HKFP
02-06-2025
- Politics
- HKFP
Hong Kong police mull access to gov't departments, MTR surveillance feeds, reports say
Hong Kong police may gain access to surveillance footage from government departments and the railway operator, which would be included in its 'SmartView' CCTV programme, according to media reports. The police force is considering gaining access to video surveillance feeds from the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, the Transport Department, and the Housing Department, as well as the MTR Corporation (MTRC) within the year, local media reported, citing unnamed sources. The SmartView programme is an initiative, implemented by the police in collaboration with government departments, to install closed-circuit televisions (CCTVs) in public places with high crime rates and pedestrian flow to prevent and help fight crime. In a response to enquiries from local media, including Ming Pao newspaper, the MTRC said that it would comply with the orders to hand over footage to the police for law enforcement purposes and 'to maintain public safety of the railway network.' In the case of any changes from existing arrangements, the MTRC will conduct a Privacy Impact Assessment to ensure it complies with laws and regulations, it said. According to a 2013 report published by the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data, the city's privacy watchdog, the MTRC had 3,342 cameras in stations and 429 cameras fitted in 78 of its 347 trains. Local paper Sing Tao reported on Sunday that police officers with inspector-level authorisation would have direct access to government departments' and the MTRC's surveillance footage for investigation purposes. The police are also mulling the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to better identify suspects, with a source comparing such a policy to the UK's use of facial recognition software. HKFP has reached out to the rail operator, the police, and the government departments for comment. 7,000 cameras by 2027 The push for surveillance access comes amid a broader police drive to install up to 7,000 surveillance cameras citywide by 2027. Having installed more than 600 cameras last year, the force aims to install a total of 1,385 by the end of 2025. Secretary for Security Chris Tang said in July last year that the government planned to introduce AI-powered facial identification software in the thousands of new cameras the police were setting up. With those new cameras and the ones under the three government departments, the police would have access to 20,000 more surveillance feeds by the end of the year, the force told local media. Last month, the police began a separate trial project using Transport Department surveillance footage to tackle illegal parking and other traffic violations at four intersections in Central and Causeway Bay.
