Hong Kong police plan to activate facial recognition in the SmartView CCTV scheme on November 16, Police Commissioner Chow Yat-ming said.
Asked whether the system could identify people wearing masks, Chow did not disclose its technical details or capability limits. He said police would withhold that information to avoid helping people evade enforcement.
SmartView has operated since 2024, placing CCTV in crime hotspots and busy public places. The force has installed more than 10,000 cameras and plans to expand the network to 60,000 by 2028. The cameras are mounted on lamp posts and smart lamp posts, and at government buildings and in police vehicles.
Police figures show that SmartView cameras had helped solve 1,659 cases by June 30, 2026, including murder, robbery and assault cases.