Hong Kong’s Police Chief, Raymond Siu Chak-yee, has revealed that the first set of 50 surveillance cameras installed in Lan Kwai Fong will have crowd counting capabilities for Halloween, with plans to add facial recognition technology next year. Additionally, a car plate recognition system may be considered for the city’s surveillance cameras.
Surveillance cameras are being installed in crime hotspots across Hong Kong, with the goal of installing 2,000 to 2,500 cameras per year from 2025. Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung noted that around 300 cameras have been installed this year, assisting in solving over 30 cases.
Earlier this year, 15 sets of surveillance cameras were installed in Mong Kok as part of a pilot scheme, followed by 13 sets in Western district two months ago. Despite lacking facial recognition capabilities, the cameras in Lan Kwai Fong currently feature a crowd counting system to manage festive crowds like during Halloween.