Hong Kong Police Aims for Facial Recognition Across CCTV by End of 2025

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Hong Kong’s police force has announced plans to incorporate facial recognition into its existing citywide surveillance camera network by the end of 2025, enabling the real‑time identification of suspects and missing persons.

Senior Superintendent Eric Leung Ming‑leung of the operations wing said the police were identifying strategic locations for the cameras, stating:

When our backend is ready, then facial recognition can be activated.

Hong Kong police confirmed the expansion of the SmartView mobile camera system, which, as of late July, is installed in 60 police patrol vehicles and is capable of recognizing license plates and vehicles. Leung added, “We will see if it’s possible to use facial recognition in our SmartView systems by the end of this year.”

Launched in April last year following a pilot in Mong Kok, the SmartView program has already deployed 3,162 camera units citywide. From 2025 through 2027, Hong Kong police intend to install at least 2,000 new units each year across public infrastructure such as traffic lights and road signs, as well as purpose‑built pillars.

The system could speed up investigations and allow officers to be dispatched automatically rather than waiting for reports. Commissioner of Police Joe Chow noted that “strict guidelines” would be in place to ensure personal privacy was protected.