According to reports in local media outlets including *Ming Pao* and *Sing Tao Daily*, the police force intends to integrate video feeds from the Leisure and Cultural Services Department
Hong Kong police are reportedly seeking access to surveillance footage from multiple government departments and the city’s railway operator as part of an expanding CCTV initiative aimed at bolstering public safety and crime prevention.
According to reports in local media outlets including *Ming Pao* and *Sing Tao Daily*, the police force intends to integrate video feeds from the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, the Transport Department, the Housing Department, and the MTR Corporation (MTRC) into its “SmartView” system—a centralised surveillance platform introduced to monitor high-crime and high-footfall areas.
The MTRC, which manages the city’s mass transit rail network, confirmed it would cooperate with law enforcement requests for footage “to maintain public safety” and ensure the security of the railway network. In a statement to local media, the operator said it would carry out a Privacy Impact Assessment should any changes to current data-sharing practices be implemented.
Hong Kong’s rail system is already heavily surveilled. A 2013 report by the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data noted the presence of more than 3,300 cameras in stations and a further 429 fitted across 78 trains. The total number of trains in the network stands at 347.
Sing Tao reported that the proposed access would allow police officers at inspector rank or above to retrieve footage directly from these sources for investigative purposes.
The SmartView initiative is part of a broader expansion of surveillance across the city. The force plans to install up to 7,000 cameras by 2027, with over 600 units installed last year and a target of 1,385 cameras by the end of 2025.
Sources also suggest that the police are considering the use of artificial intelligence to analyse footage and assist with suspect identification—drawing comparisons with the UK’s deployment of facial recognition technology in public spaces. Civil liberties advocates in the UK have previously raised concerns about the privacy implications of such systems, calling for tighter oversight and regulation.
HKFP has contacted the Hong Kong Police Force, MTRC, and the relevant government departments for official comment.
As the SmartView programme expands, questions remain over how privacy safeguards will be upheld amid growing public scrutiny of surveillance practices in the city. Critics warn that without clear transparency and data protection protocols, public trust in the use of such technologies could erode further.
