At 3 o'clock in Mong Kok's Sai Yeung Choi Street South on a recent afternoon, some shoppers were still looking skywards occasionally, scanning the buildings rising overhead, wary after the acid attack that happened in the street last month. While some welcomed the proposed installation of security cameras along the street, some said such surveillance would not be effective enough and others said they did not want cameras installed. Lau Ka-wing, 35, who lives in the popular shopping area, said the attack was a major concern for residents and supported the installation of cameras. 'My only concern is perhaps the lawbreakers will destroy the cameras before they throw any dangerous objects again. But if cameras are installed on the roofs of several buildings, it should be fine,' Miss Lau said. A caretaker of a building next to where the acid bottles were dropped, who identified himself as Mr See, said he fully supported installation of cameras. 'The surveillance system can aid the police in locating and catching people who throw objects from a height,' he said. 'Currently, I think [the police] are just guessing.' Tong Kwan-ha, 18, a broadband service promoter, admitted he felt uneasy while handing out fliers on the spot where the attack occurred. But he said the deterrent of the cameras would be greater if people were notified they were there. Some people were not so happy about the cameras. Student Lee Kai-hang, 21, said using security cameras was overkill and strengthening the security of buildings would be more practical. 'When I walk along the street, I see many [doors] left open,' he said. 'There is room to improve the security, such as locking main doors.' Some people were worried about the intrusion on their privacy but others said they would find the cameras acceptable if they were not pointing directly at flats. Mr Lee, however, said he was not worried if he was filmed because he would not misbehave in public and he trusted the government to respect his privacy. Lee Ka-fun, 20, said she was uneasy about being monitored. 'Shopping should be relaxing, without worrying too much,' she said, questioning the usefulness of security cameras. Brendon Li, 17, said people would not dare break the law on the street if they knew cameras were installed. Whether every part of the street was under surveillance was not important, as long as the cameras acted as a deterrent, he added.
