HK records 172 voyeurism cases last year, mostly smartphone-enabled: Chris Tang

Police recorded 172 cases of voyeurism and 350 of unlawful recording or observing intimate parts over the past year, with nearly 98 percent involving smartphones as tools for the crimes, according to Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung.

At a Legislative Council meeting on Wednesday, Tang noted that most of these cases occurred in crowded spaces like public transport, where offenders secretly take photos of victims while they are getting on and off vehicles or using escalators.

To prevent such crimes, he stated police will step up cooperation with stakeholders to boost public awareness and encourage greater vigilance against hidden-camera offenses.

He added that the police have been carrying out intelligence-driven operations and targeted crackdowns to enhance law enforcement.

Furthermore, authorities will encourage sector operators to integrate anti-voyeurism measures, such as secure architectural designs, into their overall crime prevention strategies.

“We will continue to combat voyeurism-related acts on all fronts through high-profile law enforcement actions, publicity and education to protect the privacy of the public,” he stated.

In response to education sector lawmaker Chu Kwok-keung’s inquiry about instituting compulsory anti-voyeurism patrols in schools, Tang maintained that the authority needed to strike a balance on the matter. 

Since there is currently no widespread voyeurism issue in schools, he said the government has no plans to mandate universal compliance, while schools may independently implement preventive measures.

(Cheng Wong)