Hong Kong lawmakers question safety of HK$360 million police software system after breaches at public agencies

Secretary for Security Chris Tang says centralised digital image platform is a ‘closed-loop system’ equipped with ‘strong anti-hacking capacities’

Lawmakers concerns prompted by series of online security breaches involving government departments

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Authorities are seeking funding for a new digital platform for the police that will be used for storing, processing, retrieving and sharing digital images with evidential or intelligence value. Photo: Jelly Tse

Published: 10:24pm, 7 May 2024Updated: 11:09pm, 7 May 2024

Hong Kong lawmakers have expressed concerns over whether a new HK$360 million (US$46 million) software system for the police is secure against data leaks amid a series of breaches involving government departments.

But Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung vouched for the new centralised digital image platform for storing digital evidence, saying it was a “closed-loop system” and effective against any data leak.

“The new system ... involves no outside parties. Relatively speaking, it is very secure. We have very strong anti-hacking capacities too,” Tang told lawmakers.

The concerns arose after three separate online security incidents involving government departments in the past week, with the latest being a breach at the Fire Services Department that compromised data of over 5,000 staff and residents.

Tang was briefing the Legislative Council’s security panel about two new systems costing over HK$500 million, before lawmakers decided whether to submit them to the Legco’s Financial Committee for approval.

The centralised digital image platform is expected to be completed in five years and cost HK$359 million. It will be used for storing, processing, retrieving and sharing digital images with evidential or intelligence value.