Latest news with #JoeChow
HKFP
2 days ago
- HKFP
Hong Kong to add 4,000 sets of surveillance cameras within 2 years
The Hong Kong Police Force will add a total of 4,000 sets of surveillance cameras across the city within two years to help detect and prevent crime, Commissioner of Police Joe Chow has said. The force is expected to install 2,000 sets of CCTV cameras this year, with each set containing two to three cameras, and another 2,000 sets will be set up next year to further expand coverage, the police chief told pro-establishment newspaper Sing Tao. In the Sing Tao interview, published on Sunday, he praised the effectiveness of the CCTV cameras in solving crimes. As of the end of June, 351 cases had been solved with the help of surveillance cameras installed in public areas with high crime rates and heavy pedestrian traffic since April 2024, said Chow, who took the helm at the police force in April. A total of 157 theft cases were resolved using the surveillance system, followed by 37 robbery cases and five murder cases, he added. Chow did not provide a breakdown for the remaining cases. The new CCTV cameras also contributed to a 4.2 per cent drop in street crimes, including car theft, pickpocketing, arson, robbery, wounding, and assault, he said. The police are looking to integrate their surveillance camera system with those of various government departments and the MTR Corporation. Secretary for Security Chris Tang said in July last year that the government planned to introduce artificial intelligence to identify faces in the thousands of new CCTV cameras the city would be setting up. Chow echoed Tang's remarks in the Sing Tao interview. The police force hopes to incorporate facial recognition and artificial intelligence into its surveillance camera system, he said, pointing to some overseas authorities that have used such technology to detect traffic accidents and automatically dispatch officers, rather than waiting for a report. The Hong Kong Police Force 'also hopes to move in this direction. As for how long it will take to implement, I hope we can speed up the process,' he said in Cantonese, adding that there would be 'strict guidelines' in place to ensure the protection of personal privacy. In December last year, local media reported that Senior Superintendent Leung Ming-leung told the Independent Police Complaints Council that the force had installed 612 sets of surveillance cameras. At the time, he said police aimed to have 7,000 sets in place by the end of 2027. According to Comparitech, a UK-based cybersecurity and privacy research firm, cities in mainland China remain the most surveilled in the world. The firm estimated that China has around 700 million cameras for a population of approximately 1.42 billion. That works out to about 494 cameras for every 1,000 people — or nearly one camera for every two individuals. The 2025 report also highlighted growing surveillance in other countries and cities, naming India, South Korea, Singapore, London, New York, and Los Angeles as locations where monitoring practices are a 'growing concern.'
RTHK
3 days ago
- RTHK
CCTV cameras effective in stopping crime: Joe Chow
CCTV cameras effective in stopping crime: Joe Chow Joe Chow said the surveillance cameras have effectively reduced the number of crimes. Commissioner of Police Joe Chow says surveillance cameras have effectively prevented street crime in the city. In an interview with Sing Tao Daily, Chow said the police launched the 'SmartView' programme in April last year to install surveillance cameras in busy public areas. So far, police officers have solved 351 cases based on the camera footage, which is an inspiring result, he said. Chow also said the number of street crimes including car theft, pickpocketing, robbery, wounding and arson has fallen by up to 42.5 percent since the cameras were installed. According to the force's plan, 2,000 CCTV cameras will be installed this year. Chow said the force will install another 2,000 cameras next year, adding that he aims to connect the police CCTV system with those at government departments and the MTR by 2026 or 2027. The police also hope to introduce facial recognition and artificial intelligence in the CCTV system in the future, he said. In addition to CCTV cameras, the police are also deploying drones to enhance efficiency, Chow said.
South China Morning Post
3 days ago
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong police chief vows tech boost including robot dogs, more drone patrols to tackle crime
Hong Kong police chief Joe Chow took the helm of the city's 27,000-strong force in April 2025. In his first exclusive interview with the Post, Chow lays out his strategies to spearhead the force in tackling new challenges and meeting the public's higher expectations. The police commissioner has also vowed to use more advanced technology to tackle the city's crimes. He revealed that the force is testing the use of robot dogs at detention cells, and planning to expand drone patrols and install more surveillance cameras in the streets.
RTHK
14-07-2025
- RTHK
Scams targeting mainland students on the rise again
Scams targeting mainland students on the rise again Chief Inspector Grace Wong (second from left) said mainland students must remain vigilat against scammers, even as the amount of losses were down 46 percent year on year. Photo: RTHK A letter signed by Police Commissioner Joe Chow will be distributed to mainland students, offering them anti-scam tips. Photo: RTHK Police in Hong Kong are urging mainland students to remain vigilant against scams, ahead of an upcoming peak for fraud activity targeting their money. Most scams ensnaring mainland students in the SAR occur in the first or second week of the school year in September, the force added. According to police data, there were 2,574 reports of phone scams in the first five months of this year, a nearly 20 percent jump from the same period last year. But total financial losses fell sharply to approximately HK$430 million, down nearly 60 percent from HK$1.25 billion a year ago. Among the victims, 49 were mainland university students who incurred losses of HK$44 million. That's compared to 89 students being duped out of HK$81 million between January and May of last year. Chief Inspector Grace Wong from the Commercial Crime Bureau's Anti-Deception Coordination Centre said that police promotional efforts have paid off, but it was crucial to maintain awareness. She revealed one mainland student reported losses of over HK$10 million, after falling prey to phone scams over a three-month period. The victim only alerted police on July 10. Aside from phone scams, many students were also subject to other deception tactics, the inspector added. "Online shopping scams should cause some concern because the amount it caused might be small, tiny, but it's going to be a large sum of number because it's a regular habit that students or even most of the general public are doing online shopping," Wong said. Another type of online scam targeted jobseekers. "They're asking you to click, subscribe, like… or even put some products in your basket in some online shopping platforms, so you're going to gain some money from that, but it's actually a fake one because after that, they're gonna ask you to pay more into your account or to other people's account in order to gain some credits," she explained. A welcome letter signed by the police commissioner with anti-fraud tips will be distributed to tertiary students and parents when the new school year begins, after the measure was proven to be effective in a limited trial last year. Additionally, a video produced in collaboration with the SAR's Immigration Department and the National Anti-Fraud Centre is being shared on social media, and will be shown at arrival and departure halls on the mainland in the coming weeks. It entails common scams, such as the impersonation of officials, housing rentals and intermediaries.
South China Morning Post
12-07-2025
- South China Morning Post
Value team spirit and chemistry, new Hong Kong police chief tells recruits
Hong Kong's new police chief has underscored the importance of unity in the 27,000-strong force at his first passing-out parade inspection, while revealing that recruitment has risen significantly since entry requirements were eased three years ago. Commissioner of Police Joe Chow Yat-ming said after the parade on Saturday, which marked the admission of 43 probationary inspectors and 219 constables to the force, that he felt honoured to be officiating at the ceremony and highlighted the importance of teamwork in his own 30-year career. 'Throughout the many years of my police career, teamwork has been more than just colleagues and peers. I think family and friends are also indispensable elements,' Chow said at the Police College in Wong Chuk Hang. Chow, who took the helm in April after his predecessor Raymond Siu Chak-yee retired, urged the new recruits to treasure the members of their cohort and the memories forged during their gruelling training days as they embarked on their police careers. 'Officers should value team spirit and chemistry both within the force and when facing external parties, rise against challenges, share weal and woe as well as take care of one another. As captains, one should lead by example and stand on the front lines,' Chow said. After the parade, Chow revealed that 1,224 entrants joined the force in the 2024-25 financial year, a 25 per cent increase over the previous 12 months. The police chief added that the number of applicants between April and June this year had also risen by 10 per cent compared with the same period in 2024, but he stopped short of revealing the figure.
