Facial recognition could come to HK’s CCTV network as early as this year: police chief

Police are preparing to introduce facial recognition technology to the city’s CCTV network as early as this year, Police Commissioner Joe Chow Yat-ming announced.

Chow’s comments follow the completion of the first phase of the SmartView project, which saw 5,000 cameras installed citywide. According to police, the new cameras have assisted in around 750 cases and led to 1,300 arrests as of last year.

Speaking on a television program on Sunday, Chow said the current target is to deploy approximately 60,000 cameras by 2028, but stressed this is only the initial stage. He added that officials will review the potential for further expansion in the future.

To further enhance crime prevention and detection, police are in talks with private sector partners, including shopping mall operators, about integrating CCTV footage from high-traffic and strategic locations into the citywide system.

Chow reported that some groups have responded positively, with several malls expected to join the initiative within the year. He clarified that participation is not mandatory for all malls, as the collaboration will be based on public safety considerations.

Responding to questions about whether Hong Kong seeks to emulate the dense surveillance networks of mainland cities, where cameras appear at nearly every two steps, Chow confirmed that such coverage is the target.

"The more cameras, the better,” he said, believing the comprehensive network can bring greater security and peace of mind to the public.

He further added that societal acceptance of CCTV has grown significantly compared to two or three decades ago.

Regarding the introduction of facial recognition capabilities to the CCTV network, Chow stated that the technology is already widely used globally and that police possess the necessary technical capacity internally.

"I certainly hope it will happen this year—or next year at the latest," he said, explaining that the current focus is on addressing the legal framework, training officers in application, and the level of public acceptance.

Chow assured that public announcements will be made before the deployment of facial recognition technology, allowing both law enforcement and the community to adapt appropriately.

Progress in combating scam cases
In a separate update, Chow reported that efforts to combat fraud yielded initial results last year, with total losses dropping by HK$1 billion.

However, he pointed out a concerning trend where losses from investment scams rose sharply to HK$3.5 billion.

Investment fraud will be a key focus in the coming year, and authorities plan to collaborate with social media companies to identify and remove problematic users and groups, he added.

Notably, Hong Kong will host the 94th Interpol General Assembly for the first time this November. Chow revealed that the gathering will address common challenges faced by police forces worldwide—ranging from technology-related crimes to cross-border offences.

Given the current geopolitical landscape, he said more fugitives from Hong Kong are fleeing to Asian or ASEAN regions, making stronger cooperation with these areas essential.