Successful cases

Located at the southwestern tip of Hong Kong, Hei Ling Chau houses several correctional facilities. To strengthen island security, the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) and the Correctional Services Department (CSD) jointly launched a pilot Artificial Intelligence (AI) Coastal Surveillance System, introducing AI technology for the first time to provide round-the-clock monitoring of the Hei Ling Chau coastline.

Under the administration of the CSD, Hei Ling Chau features correctional facilities, and a typhoon shelter along its southwestern coast for local vessels to berth, with frequent marine traffic in the adjacent waters. Due to the island’s long coastline and rugged terrain, the efficiency of manual patrols is heavily constrained by the geographical environment, with risks and limitations to frontline patrol multiplying especially during adverse weather. To this end, the EMSD began developing and designing the AI Coastal Surveillance System in 2024, with installation and testing commencing in mid-2025, prior to its official commissioning at the end of the year.

The system integrates surveillance cameras with radar and Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) technologies to monitor the typhoon shelter coastline 24 hours a day. Leveraging AI, it identifies vessels or suspicious individuals approaching the shore, effectively preventing illegal intrusions or prisoner escapes.

The system also features dynamic ranging and multi-level alert functions. Duty personnel will receive instant alerts when vessels enter different warning zones. Once a vessel approaches the shore, the system triggers the highest-level alert. Duty staff can immediately use spotlights and the broadcasting system to warn the vessel against entering areas under the CSD’s administration, and promptly take appropriate action against individuals attempting illegal landing.

Beyond coastal coverage, the system’s surveillance network extends to designated areas across the island to reinforce overall security. Equipped with recognition-enabled cameras, the system detects suspicious individuals within designated zones. Once an anomaly is discovered, it will issue an alert to prompt the duty personnel to conduct monitoring, enabling them to assess the situation and take follow-up actions based on real-time surveillance footage.

During the testing phase, the system achieved a success rate of over 90% in detecting suspicious vessels and individuals, demonstrating stable and reliable performance. It effectively relieves the pressure on frontline staff tasked with patrolling and monitoring the coastline, while markedly elevating overall security. With continuous technological refinement, the system holds great potential for wider adoption in other disciplined services or coastal facilities in the future, pioneering a brand-new chapter for smart city security in Hong Kong.

The EMSD will continue to advance the third Five-year Strategic Plan (the third Plan) of the Electrical and Mechanical Services Trading Fund (EMSTF), delivering customer-oriented innovative services and leveraging digital technology and AI to assist client departments in enhancing efficiency and service quality.