The Food & Environmental Hygiene Department’s District Hawker Control Teams will gradually start using Body Worn Video Cameras (BWVCs) from tomorrow, based on the actual need and circumstances.

The department said the move is aimed at assisting frontline staff in carrying out their duties more effectively and to safeguard the safety of the public and staff.

It has been striving to regulate hawking activities and combat shops illegally extending their business area, with a view to reducing the nuisance and obstruction caused by illegal hawking activities and shop front extensions through taking enforcement action.

Hawker Control Officers (HCOs) in districts will be equipped with BWVCs gradually in July to record the on-site situation when necessary during their execution of duties, which will enhance the capability and accuracy in gathering evidence and provide useful information for future investigation work.

When discharging their duties, HCOs will wear the cameras conspicuously and use them in an open and transparent manner. When HCOs encounter unexpected or conflicting incidents and consider it necessary to record the situation, they will, where reasonably practicable, notify the people concerned prior to starting recording to safeguard public and staff safety as well as reducing risks at work.

Making reference to the experience of relevant law enforcement departments in the use of BWVCs, the department has formulated clear enforcement guidelines and provided training for frontline staff.

When handling relevant footage, the department will ensure that it is in compliance with the regulations of the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance. Footage carrying no investigative or evidential value or constituting 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.