Govt seeks $4.06b to expand SmartView CCTV program, studies facial recognition upgrade

The government has applied for HK$4.06 billion in funding to expand its “SmartView” surveillance program, with plans to install about 66,500 additional CCTV cameras across the city over the next six years.

The proposal, put forward by the Security Bureau, would see the police gradually roll out the new cameras within three years. Annual system maintenance costs are also expected to rise, reaching more than HK$240 million per year after 2036.

Speaking on a radio program on Saturday, Commissioner of Police Joe Chow Yat-ming said the authorities had made efforts to control costs and make the best use of public resources.

The plan “has already compressed costs as much as possible and made good use of public resources,” he said, adding that maintaining public order would also help Hong Kong’s business environment.

Chow said police are studying the possible introduction of facial recognition technology to speed up investigations. He stressed that the public would be briefed before any such feature is implemented.

Taking into account geopolitical risks, including long-term equipment supply and information security concerns, Chow said it was recommended that procurement for the SmartView program be conducted through direct purchasing.

Separately, the police chief addressed a new wave of so-called “crash-for-cash” scams, in which staged traffic accidents are used to make fraudulent insurance claims. He said police would launch a new round of enforcement action as soon as possible.

Four people — a local couple and two doctors — have been arrested in connection with fraudulent insurance claims linked to at least 22 staged traffic accidents. The largest single claim exceeded HK$300,000, according to police.