Hong Kong police will use drones for patrol if regulations permit, with images collected for artificial intelligence analysis to improve effectiveness, the city’s security minister has revealed.
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Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung said on Wednesday that the force would look into introducing drone patrols on set routes, if the city’s rules on such gadgets flying beyond the sight of pilots were relaxed.
“While developing drone technology, various departments will exercise stringent control and supervision in the course of enforcing the relevant legislation to ensure that the operation of the drone is safe and complies with the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance, so as to protect the privacy of the public,” Tang said in the Legislative Council.
He added that the force was also considering keeping drones hovering at specific locations to illuminate the surroundings and broadcast reminders to the public against possible crime.
In July, police used drones to broadcast messages in Cantonese, English and Bahasa Indonesia in Sheung Sze Wan in Sai Kung, as well as in hillside residential areas in Clear Water Bay. The messages asked members of the public to stay vigilant and report any suspicious activity in bushland and forests nearby.
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Addressing lawmakers’ concerns, the security chief unveiled the proposed plan as he laid out the use of drones among the city’s six disciplined services.
Currently, police have been using drones at remote sites and crowded large-scale events to collect evidence, detect suspicious people hiding in difficult terrain, and monitor crowd and traffic flow.