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Simpson Cheung

Callers to Hong Kong’s 999 hotline will be able to send real-time audio and visual information to emergency call centres using instant messaging apps in 2028, Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung has said.
The security minister revealed the timeline for the upgrade on Thursday, a day after Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu announced in his latest policy address that three new functions were set to be introduced to enhance 999 call services.
Alongside providing “real-time audio, image and video data” to help centres appraise situations, the new features will ensure crucial data can be instantly sent to the Fire Services Department to help fast-track rescue efforts.
Authorities are also expected to employ new technology to triage incoming calls, ensuring the most critical cases are prioritised during major incidents or busy periods.
Tang said the three functions would be introduced in 2028.
“In extreme situations with a high volume of calls, our system categorises what people are reporting,” he said.
“Say it’s a fire. That is obviously more urgent, so we take that call first. But if it is a dispute over a parking spot, that is relatively minor.”
Tang also provided an update on the revamped Huanggang Port. The border crossing is expected to begin operations in the fourth quarter of this year, according to the policy address.
The security minister said a concrete opening date would be announced after adjustments to the facility’s computer systems were completed, which included the fine-tuning of facial-recognition cameras.


The facility had already passed a large-scale operational drill, with follow-up improvements made to the site’s Wi-fi system and anti-skid works completed on road surfaces, he said.
Tang said the redeveloped Huanggang Port could serve 200,000 people daily, up from the previous capacity of 40,000. He expected this figure to reach 300,000 once the Northern Link rail line fully opened in 2034.
The minister also discussed sections on national security in Hong Kong’s first five-year plan, which was unveiled alongside the annual policy address on Wednesday.
While the plan stated the city would “strengthen the top-level structure to robustly safeguard national security under an authoritative chain of command”, Tang said this did not mean a new command tier would be introduced.
He added that the future work of both the central government’s Office for Safeguarding National Security and the Committee for Safeguarding National Security – including its chairman, consultants and secretariat – would be further strengthened.
Tang was also asked whether Hong Kong planned to introduce anti-sanction laws, given Macau had included improving its “anti-sanction mechanism” in its own five-year plan.
The security minister replied that staying “on guard against activities endangering national security by hostile forces” was part of Hong Kong’s five-year blueprint, and “anti-sanctions” was already covered in the plan.


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Security minister reveals timeline for upgrades to emergency call services, a day after new features announced in Hong Kong policy address


Security minister reveals timeline for upgrades to emergency call services, a day after new features announced in Hong Kong policy address.


Hong Kong 999 callers can send real-time audio, video data from 2028: Chris Tang

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Security minister reveals timeline for upgrades to emergency call services, a day after new features announced in Hong Kong policy address

Security minister reveals timeline for upgrades to emergency call services, a day after new features announced in Hong Kong policy address