What is the SmartView CCTV upgrade timeline?

Police indicated facial recognition could begin this year, pending legal and technical approvals. Expect a phased approach with pilots, acceptance testing, and staged activation. Watch for tender releases and validation milestones. Operators linking feeds should prepare documentation, notices, and access controls before any go‑live.

How does PDPO apply to facial recognition data?

Facial images are personal data. PDPO requires clear purposes, fair collection, data security, accuracy, limited retention, and access rights. Keep signage visible, restrict access, encrypt data, and log use. Conduct impact assessments and document decisions to show accountability if regulators request evidence.

What costs should property operators expect?

Budget for network upgrades, secure storage, integration work, and ongoing maintenance. Compliance adds costs for signage, policy updates, audits, and staff training. If connecting to SmartView, plan for interoperability testing, role‑based access, and incident response readiness to manage alerts or errors without service disruption.

Which vendors may benefit from the expansion?

Vendors in cameras, AI inference hardware, video management software, secure networking, and cybersecurity can see demand. System integrators, testers, and maintenance providers are also positioned well. Those offering model evaluation, bias testing, and strong SLAs may stand out in competitive tenders.

Law and Government

Hong Kong CCTV, February 17: HK$4B Police Facial Recognition Push

ByDanny Kontos February 17, 2026February 17, 2026

Hong Kong CCTV facial recognit is set to grow after police outlined a HK$4 billion CCTV budget and a SmartView surveillance expansion targeting 66,500 cameras pending approvals. Officials say facial recognition could arrive as early as this year, signaling rapid procurement, testing, and integration. We explain how Hong Kong police facial recognition may affect vendors, property operators, and compliance programs across the city, with key dates, oversight needs, and steps to prepare now for legal and technical sign‑off.