Exclusive: Police say ‘drone in operation’ warnings to remain up in communities, even when patrols not taking place

2026-02-04 - 06:17

Warning banners reading “Police Drone in Operation” will remain up in local communities, even when there is no aerial surveillance operation taking place, police have confirmed to HKFP. A sign on Lamma Island warning of police drones in operation pictured on February 2, 2026. Photo: Tom Grundy/HKFP. Last month, the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) announced they would expand the use of drones for crime prevention to areas including The Peak, Cheung Chau and Lamma Island as part of a pilot scheme. HKFP has noted that – for over a month – multiple police warning banners had been in place across Lamma Island’s Yung Shue Wan. The HKPF website for the Pilot Scheme for ‘Operational Deployment of Drones’ – Phase 2 states that “Signage is placed in drone patrol areas to clearly inform the public that police drones are in operation.” See also: New police plan to expand AI-enabled CCTV blanket to public housing estates raises questions over privacy However, in response to HKFP’s enquiries on Monday, an HKPF spokesperson confirmed that drone patrols “will be conducted from time to time, while the banner will not be removed in the interim to maximize the deterrence effect against criminals.” A sign in Tai Peng, Lamma Island warning of police drones in operation pictured on February 2, 2026. Photo: Tom Grundy/HKFP. The spokesperson did not respond to enquiries as to whether the programme on Lamma Island had yielded any results. Private rooftops Police also did not directly respond as to how the privacy of residents using their private rooftops would be respected. However, they said that drones will cover “many tourist hotspots, including piers, coastal areas, eateries, festival venues, parade routes, and more,” whilst pilots will “strictly adhere to the recommendations of the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data regarding drone use.” Police drone patrol privacy measures – click to view Police told HKFP they would “eliminate or reduce concerns about potential privacy violations” by: “Establishing internal guidelines to regulate flight missions, determine the need for recording, and define procedures for handling collected footage. Carefully planning flight routes to avoid unnecessarily flying close to individuals or private premises. Using red and blue flashing lights to indicate that police drones are on a mission. All police drones are marked with reflective decals for identification purposes. Police remote pilots will erect signs in the “take-off area” to identify police presence. Setting up markers in police drone patrol areas to clearly indicate ongoing drone patrols in public spaces. Unless approved by a senior officer at the rank of Superintendent or above, video footage without evidential value (such as training/promotional clips) will not be retained for more than 31 days. Video footage obtained for evidential or investigative purposes will be classified as evidence and submitted to the evidence room under the jurisdiction of the investigating unit for safekeeping until the conclusion of the case.” They added that the scheme on Lamma Island – a tourist hotspot – is “an overt enforcement action.” A sign on Lamma Island warning of police drones in operation pictured on January 19, 2026. Photo: Tom Grundy/HKFP. During the first phase of the drone scheme, which began last May, police operated drones in Heung Yuen Wai near the border with mainland China, as well as in Kowloon West. The police website cited the use of automated drone patrol systems by law enforcement agencies in China, the US, Australia, Canada, Norway, and Spain. Around 800 officers in the police force are qualified to operate drones.