Police to deploy facial recognition on CCTV networks

RTHK - Nov 6, 2026

Police said facial recognition technology will be rolled out across its CCTV network this month to assist in criminal searches and locate high-risk missing persons, with some of the captured data stored for up to 180 days. Officers said they have so far installed around 10,000 cameras under the SmartView initiative, alongside connections to a further 10,000 from other government departments and public organisations. Covered locations include, among others, Kai Tak Sports Park, Hong Kong International Airport, cross-harbour tunnels, MTR stations and public housing estates. Superintendent Raymond Cheng said the facial recognition feature can be activated anytime on all police cameras, as well as third-party feeds integrated into the SmartView system. However, he explained that the feature will only be triggered during active criminal searches or to locate high-risk missing persons, to save resources. "For the 24 hours analysis, not all of them can be used at the same time because of the resources," Cheng said. "But if we need to use, we can spend the resources on particular CCTV, and of course it can be used around the clock.” In separate pilot tests, police said the facial recognition technology has already helped them arrest a robbery suspect and locate an elderly...

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