Hong Kong police launch three-month drone patrol trial in two districts

Starting this Friday, the Hong Kong Police Force will deploy drones for patrols in its Border District and West Kowloon Region under a three-month pilot scheme aimed at enhancing operational efficiency.

The move follows the establishment of the police drone unit last October, which has already conducted 12 mountain search-and-rescue missions between January and April this year.

Automated drone patrols along border fences

In the Border District, officers will use an automated drone docking system to conduct pre-programmed patrols along border fences. Two officers will oversee operations—one managing the system and another controlling takeoff and landing.

The new method is expected to cut patrol time from one hour to just 15 to 20 minutes.

Crime-fighting drones in West Kowloon

Meanwhile, in West Kowloon, drones equipped with thermal imaging and zoom lenses will be deployed for anti-crime operations. These devices will monitor burglary hotspots, track suspects’ escape routes, and assist in planning arrests.

Each mission will involve one officer manually piloting the drone while another monitors the footage.

Police stressed that the trial is not targeting specific cases but will adapt drone usage based on operational needs.

Safety and privacy taken into account

Chief Inspector Vincent Law Hoi-ming of the force’s key points and search division assured that each drone undergoes pre-flight checks and is equipped with obstacle avoidance and parachute systems to ensure safe landings.

"The public will have sufficient time to avoid descending drones," he said.

Superintendent Ko Chung-ying added that police will display banners reading "Police Drone in Operation" at least one week before patrols begin and notify residents through property management offices. However, if evidence collection is required, drones may start recording without prior notice.

"Advance notification isn’t always possible because we can’t predict when, where, or who might be involved in a crime," Ko explained. "If necessary, we may use drones with loudspeakers to issue warnings or evacuation orders."

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Strict approval process and data handling

All drone flights require approval from superintendent-level officers, who must review flight paths, takeoff and landing points, and altitude restrictions to minimize intrusion near residential areas.

Police also pledged to follow Privacy Commissioner guidelines when handling recorded footage.

Currently, 700 officers are certified by the Civil Aviation Department to operate drones, with an additional 10 trained in using the automated docking system.

The force has 10 drone docking stations and 20 drones in West Kowloon alone but emphasized that drones will complement, not replace, ground patrols.

Future expansion and AI integration

Police plan to analyze pilot data to refine operations, with the goal of extending drone patrols to the Peak and Cheung Chau districts by the fourth quarter.

Future upgrades may include AI-powered analysis of drone footage to detect suspicious objects and monitor crowd and traffic flow, enhancing coordination with officers on the ground, according to the force.

(Marco Lam)