The initiative will leverage the Transport Department’s existing traffic control and surveillance system, including CCTV systems, to detect unsafe driving.
Fixed penalty notices will be issued to offenders once drivers are identified through captured license plate details and timestamps of violations.
The superintendent of traffic management at the traffic branch headquarters, Nip Hoi-kwan, said the programme expands enforcement capabilities.
“In the past, the Transport Department’s traffic control and surveillance system did not have video recording capabilities,” Nip said.
“The purpose of this plan is simply to provide officers with an additional enforcement option.
“Based on traffic conditions or their experience, officers will assess when congestion is likely to be more serious, and during those times, personnel will be sent to the control centre to monitor the traffic situation and activate the recording function.”
The first phase targets intersections at Queen’s Road Central with Ice House Street, Pedder Street, Bonham Strand and Wong Nai Chung Road.
The superintendent of the enforcement and control division of traffic Hong Kong Island, Mak Chung-kit, said these sites were chosen due to recurring violations and their disproportionate impact on broader traffic flow.
“In the past, we have continuously deployed our officers, whether for patrolling, law enforcement or directing traffic, and have invested a significant amount of manpower and resources,” Mak said.
“However, traffic violations and congestion at the affected locations often reoccur shortly after our officers leave.
“We found that the effectiveness of our officers’ presence is very short-lived.
“At these four locations, traffic violations such as illegal parking, illegal pick-ups and drop-offs or yellow box junction obstructions can cause congestion that, even in a very short period of time, will impact nearby major roads and even affect trunk roads.”
The police said the aim is to bolster public compliance with traffic laws, reduce accident risks and alleviate congestion through sustained monitoring.
The three-month pilot will undergo a review before potential expansion, with outcomes informing future enforcement strategies.
