Lawmakers want security gates, mobile CCTVs
Security gates at the entrances to buildings could be installed at government expense and mobile surveillance cameras set up in Mong Kok to deter further acid attacks.
Nine lawmakers made these suggestions after a tour to understand the operations of the 'sky eye' surveillance camera system in the Mong Kok pedestrian precinct, which has been subjected to three acid attacks in the past seven months.
'The 'sky eyes' are not flawless and there are some blind spots,' chairman of the Legislative Council's security panel Lau Kong-wah said. 'However, we cannot deny the effectiveness of the cameras, they have their use.'
He said the district council would consider if more cameras - including mobile ones that are not fixed and could be moved to different locations - should be installed. 'Because there are so many blind spots, I think more CCTVs will help.' Mr Lau's comments came a day after the police concluded that the bottle of acid thrown in last Monday's attack came from the rooftop of a building at either 58 Sai Yeung Choi Street South or 60 Sai Yeung Choi Street South.
The lawmaker said neither building was as tall as the one next to it, making it a blind spot not covered by the HK$1.7 million camera system.
He said the legislators in the tour also requested more police patrols in the area, as well as other pedestrian zones across the city, to ensure safety.
Edmond Chung Kong-mo, chairman of Yau Tsim Mong District Council, said using mobile 'sky eyes' could prevent their locations from becoming known.
The lawmakers also suggested the government sponsor the installation of security gates, especially at buildings without owners corporations. People are now free to enter the buildings as there are no gates or the gates are not locked. However, some shop owners in those buildings were against the idea, saying that it would hurt business.
