The Marine Department today said its frontline officers in the Harbour Patrol Section will make full use of body-worn video cameras from tomorrow when performing duties in Hong Kong waters.

The measure aims to assist in investigations, enhance officers' ability to collect evidence when performing their duties, and allow recording of situations during major events at sea to ensure marine safety.

The department conducted a field trial in the waters around Victoria Harbour between January and June to evaluate the effectiveness of using body-worn video cameras.

Results showed that frontline officers' use of the cameras in discharging their duties can help enhance evidence collection, providing practical information for future investigations.

It can also enable frontline officers to discharge their duties in a more effective manner, the department said.

The department has formulated guidelines to optimise use of the cameras.

When carrying out their duties, frontline officers are required to mount the body-worn video cameras in a conspicuous position on their uniforms.

As far as is practicable, they should also give any person concerned reasonable and public advance notice before commencing recording.

The department stressed that it will take all necessary steps to comply with the requirements of the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance when handling collected personal data.

Any video footage that carries no investigative or evidential value, or that constitutes no other legitimate purpose, will be deleted 31 days after the date on which it was recorded, to ensure that no excessive personal data are kept.