First person arrested in Hong Kong for alleged voyeurism offence involving use of drone to film people in hotels, flats
- Officers identified man, 26, after discovering damaged drone on Supreme Court Drive in Admiralty
- ‘Investigation showed more than 20 indecent videos were stored in the drone,’ the force says
A man accused of using a drone to film people in hotels and residential flats in Hong Kong was caught, marking the first arrest for a voyeurism-related offence involving the device, police said on Friday.
Officers identified the 26-year-old man after discovering a damaged drone on Supreme Court Drive in Admiralty on October 9.
“The investigation showed more than 20 indecent videos were stored in the drone that targeted people in residences or hotels,” the force said.
According to police, the drone was believed to have hit a building and crashed. There are two five-star hotels, Island Shangri-La and Conrad Hong Kong, as well as the city’s British consulate on Supreme Court Drive.
After further investigation, crime-squad officers from the Central police district raided a Wong Tai Sin flat on Friday morning and arrested the 26-year-old man. He was detained on suspicion of voyeurism.
As of Friday afternoon, the local resident was still being held for questioning and no charges had been laid.
“It is the first time police discovered a drone was used in a voyeurism-related offence,” the force said.
The maximum punishment under the Crimes Ordinance for voyeurism is five years in jail.
“Publishing indecent images derived from voyeurism is also in breach of the law and is punishable by up to five years in prison,” police said.
There have been wide calls for tougher measures against voyeuristic acts in recent years. In September last year, lawmakers passed a string of laws outlawing the use of prying cameras and to combat upskirting, referring to people using mobile phones or small cameras to take photos under victims’ clothing.
The new offences cover acts committed in both public and private spaces, and people convicted of either of the first two offences will go on the sex offenders’ register.
In June this year, the Small Unmanned Aircraft Order also took effect, banning the flying of drones weighing more than 250 grams without registration and insurance.
Under the new rules, owners will have to register such devices, and undergo “short web-based training” to operate drones weighing between 250 grams and 7kg.
Operators of drones weighing 7kg will have to also undergo in-depth training and pass competency tests at their own cost. Third-party insurance has been made mandatory to fly drones weighing more than 250 grams.
The force warned that those who violated offences under the order could face a maximum penalty of two years in jail and a HK$100,000 (US$12,738) fine.
