Hong Kong police will begin deploying drones over densely populated urban areas in the second half of the year in an effort to curb burglaries, particularly in districts with ageing tenement buildings, South China Morning Post has learned.
Sources revealed that drone patrols will initially focus on Kowloon’s Yau Tsim Mong and Sham Shui Po districts, where scaffolding erected for building renovations has made properties vulnerable to break-ins. The drones will patrol these hotspots in search of suspicious activity, especially individuals scaling scaffolding, while allowing officers to verify whether work is being legally conducted.
“Renovation scaffolding has become an easy entry point for burglars,” an insider told the Post. “That’s why these areas, with their high density of old buildings, are being prioritized.”
The police will also test drone patrols in the city’s northern New Territories, particularly near the border, to enhance regional security.
Hong Kong’s Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung previously told lawmakers that police drones would only be deployed under regulatory conditions, with pre-defined flight paths avoiding residential areas. These drones will be clearly marked with flashing red and blue lights and reflective identifiers to indicate they are on official missions.
The new operations are part of a broader effort by the Hong Kong Police Force to modernize surveillance and patrol tactics, while ensuring compliance with privacy laws. Officers monitoring the drones will be trained to distinguish between authorized construction activities and suspicious behavior.
In rural areas such as Sheung Sze Wan in Sai Kung and Clear Water Bay, drones have already been used to broadcast anti-burglary messages in Cantonese, English, and Bahasa Indonesia. They have also proven effective in monitoring large-scale events and detecting individuals hiding in rough terrain.
Burglary cases in Hong Kong fell nearly 10% last year to 1,220 — the second-lowest figure since 1969. Police reported a detection rate of 38%, also the second-highest since records began in 1977.
About 800 disciplined services members are currently qualified for advanced drone operation under certifications from the Civil Aviation Department, according to Tang.
Police Commissioner Joe Chow Yat-ming, who took office on April 2, has hinted at broader use of robotics in law enforcement, including robot dogs. He confirmed that discussions are underway with mainland authorities on integrating such technologies into Hong Kong’s policing strategies.
Mainland cities such as Shenzhen have already integrated drones and robot dogs into daily police operations. Shenzhen’s Public Security Bureau reported an average of 149 drone patrols per day last year, backed by over 1,600 licensed drone pilots.
