She told lawmakers that a two-month trial by the end of the year will involve using AI image sensors on parking meters at spaces considered to be blackspots for occupation problems.
The minister said the sensors will help the authorities manage the parking spaces better.
Financial services lawmaker Robert Lee asked whether the government could follow the mainland’s example in installing surveillance cameras to see who is occupying spaces.
Chan said transport officials and the police will look at whether cameras could be installed.
“In mainland cities such as Beijing and Shanghai, they have installed CCTV cameras above street parking meters. That helps with identifying licence plates,” the minister said.
“If we were to install cameras, we would have to look into the benefits and effectiveness of doing so.”
Chan said the government is also open to increasing fines for those repeatedly caught occupying parking spaces illegally.
The minister also said that 15,000 new public and private parking spaces have been created in the past three years.
Another 12,000 to be introduced in the next couple of years will bring the total across the city to more than 870,000, she said.
