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The following is issued on behalf of the Yau Tsim Mong District Council:
Yau Tsim Mong District Council's Working Group on Mong Kok Pedestrian Precinct reported in a meeting today (June 9) that the installation and testing of closed-circuit televisions (CCTVs) in the pedestrian precinct had been completed, and round-the-clock automatic monitoring of objects falling from a height had started right after the handover at 3pm yesterday.
Working group chairman Mr Hau Wing-cheong said notices reminding pedestrians of the operation of CCTVs were posted in the Mong Kok Pedestrian Precinct. The purpose of installing CCTVs is to deter people from throwing objects from a height and to assist the police investigation when an incident happens.
Mr Hau condemned the acid attacker in the incident that happened in Nelson Street yesterday, and urged swift police action to bring the culprits to justice. He also expressed sympathy and solicitude towards the injured. In accordance with established guidelines, Yau Tsim Mong District Council has already handed the video recordings captured by the CCTV system yesterday to the Police for investigation.
He said, "The video recordings are only used for Police investigation into incidents of attacks from a height. The Yau Tsim Mong District Council (YTMDC) has taken all practical steps to ensure data security and to guard against unauthorised access to or use of the images captured by the CCTV system."
He added, "The District Council will not compile any information on the individuals being captured. Besides, only those parties authorised by the YTMDC, such as relevant government departments and maintenance staff, can have access to the video recording for system review and maintenance purposes.
"The installation of CCTVs is only one of the measures to deter incidents of objects falling from a height and assist police investigation into similar incidents. It is equally important that Police should step up surveillance and patrol work. The District Council will continue to maintain close liaison with relevant government departments and hope this would help the Police to bring the culprit to justice as soon as possible. In the meantime, residents, owners' corporations, mutual aid committees and residents' groups in the district should also be on high alert and strengthen the security systems of their buildings."
The working group, formed under the District Council in December last year after a "falling objects" incident took place in the pedestrian precinct, has held several meetings to discuss the installation of CCTVs in the area. The District Council and the District Office have also consulted the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data, government departments and local residents on the installation project. Operational guidelines for the CCTV system have been formulated to ensure that a reasonable balance between the safety of passers-by and the privacy of residents will be upheld. The project was handed over to the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) to carry out the required procedures in relation to the tender, design and installation of the system, after the District Council approved the necessary funding in March. The EMSD completed the installation and testing of the system in early June. The CCTV system was put into operation yesterday.
Ends/Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Issued at HKT 16:33
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