The application of innovation and technology in law enforcement is an inevitable trend the world over. Take illegal parking as an example. With hundreds of thousands of vehicles on the road, wouldn’t it be good if there were cameras spying on those who speed or park illegally? Better still, if they could lead to police imposing fines on the spot or finding and punishing drivers within minutes. The plot may sound like something from a sci-fi blockbuster, but the truth is that similar systems are in place elsewhere, often after facing great opposition.

Local drivers may be relieved to learn that such systems are not here yet, but a pilot scheme targeting illegal parking will soon be implemented in Kowloon East under a government push to make Hong Kong a smart city. Twelve cameras will be installed on street lights at three traffic black spots in Kwun Tong and San Po Kong. They will be able to record cases of illegal parking and data, such as vehicle number plates, to be used in actions brought by police. Officials say the data will not be used in prosecutions during the trial period, but may be used in future.

The need for more effective enforcement action against illegal parking is evident. More than 830,000 parking tickets were issued in the first half of 2017, an annual increase of 40 per cent. Whether such cameras, despite being powerful tools, are the answer is open to debate, though. Elsewhere, some are calling for their permanent installation to fight crime, but there are legitimate privacy concerns too. The idea of having everything recorded for possible criminal investigation remains highly controversial. The city’s privacy protection law stipulates that the collection of data needs to be for or directly related to a legitimate purpose, and the data is adequate but not excessive in relation to that purpose. The use of surveillance cameras for specific law enforcement is also expected to abide by such principles. This includes assessing whether there are less intrusive means to achieve the same objective, and whether those responsible acted and had been seen to have acted responsibly and transparently in terms of the purpose and usage. The pros and cons should be fully assessed to help strike a right balance.