Background

  1. To enhance the effectiveness of frontline officers in discharging their duties and to safeguard the navigation safety of vessels, the Marine Department ("MD") earlier introduced the use of body-worn cameras to assist in investigations and evidence collection during enforcement of marine legislations, or to record the on-site sea situations during the major events at sea.
  2. Following a six-month field trial, evaluation of the test results showed that the use of body-worn video cameras by frontline officers in discharging their duties can help enhance the capability and accuracy of evidence collection, providing practical information for future investigations. It can also enable frontline officers to perform their duties more effectively. Starting from 1 July 2025, frontline officers of the MD's Harbour Patrol Section in all districts will fully use body-worn video cameras when performing their duties.
  3. To optimise the use of body-worn video cameras, the MD has formulated relevant guidelines and control measures, requiring officers to use the body-worn video cameras in a lawful, open and non-covert manner. When discharging their duties, frontline officers are required to wear their uniforms and mount the body-worn video cameras in a conspicuous position on their bodies (as illustrated in the example below), and as far as practicable, give any person concerned reasonable and public advance notice before commencing the recording.

Storage and Access to Data Collected

  1. The MD, as a data user, will take all necessary steps to comply with the requirements of the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance (Cap. 486) ("PDPO") when handling the collected personal data. Any video footage that carries no investigative or evidential value, or that constitutes no other legitimate purpose, will be deleted after 31 days from the date it was recorded, to ensure that no excessive personal data will be kept.
  2. If any person being video-recorded requests access to the data, the MD will handle and follow up the request in accordance with the provisions of the PDPO. For data access requests, please follow the procedures for Personal Data Access or Correction Requests. For the details on the procedures, please visit the MD's website at (https://www.mardep.gov.hk/tc/access-to-information/personal-data-access-or-correction-requests/index.html).

Mounting in a conspicuous position on the uniform

Mounting in a conspicuous position on the boiler suit

Start a body-worn video camera and screen turned on