Commissioner of Police
CHOW Yat-ming
Over the past year, my team and I have fully implemented the three major priorities I established upon assuming office, namely safeguarding national security, promoting smart policing and strengthening team culture, in fulfilment of the Force’s pledge, ‘Serving Hong Kong with Honour, Duty and Loyalty’.
In 2025, a total of 89,137 crimes were recorded, representing a decrease of 5.9% when compared with 2024. The vast majority of major crimes saw declines, with robbery and burglary reaching historic lows. With the Police’s continued implementation of a multi-pronged strategy to prevent and combat fraudulent activities, the number of deception cases recorded its first drop since 2019.
Social stability and a secure, orderly environment are hard-earned achievements. In addition to all Force members performing their duties faithfully and serving the public with dedication, it is even more important for the Force and the community to advance together in solidarity to safeguard Hong Kong, our home.
Safeguarding National Security, Police and Community in Solidarity
National security is the prerequisite for steady social development and the cornerstone for people to live and work happily. While the society may appear calm on the surface, underlying currents persist, and the threats to national security must not be overlooked.
As the backbone of safeguarding national security, every member of the Force must internalise the belief in their hearts and externalise the responsibility through action. In 2025, the Force incorporated ‘Safeguarding national security' and ‘Patriotism with affection for our country and Hong Kong' into the Force's common purpose and values, and continued to prioritise ‘Safeguarding national security' at the forefront of the Force’s Strategic Directions 2025-2027 and the Commissioner’s Operational Priorities. This ensures colleagues in different roles clearly recognise that safeguarding national security is a collective mission. Force members will continuously enhance their sensitivity and capability in related work, remain vigilant in times of peace, and work in concerted efforts to identify and guard against any potential national security threats, leaving no room for any signs of undermining Hong Kong’s stability to take root.
During the year, several major national security cases concluded. The court convicted the defendants and handed down deterrent sentences. This not only exposed to the public the despicable intentions of those seeking to betray the nation and destabilise Hong Kong, but also demonstrated the dedication of the teams entrusted with the arduous investigative work, and their professional capability in safeguarding national security.
Safeguarding national security cannot rest on the Force alone. The public’s proactive commitment to fulfilling the responsibility is equally important. To this end, the Force is dedicated to promoting national security education through a wide range of activities, aiming to enhance young people’s sense of national identity and help the public understand the close relationship between national security and their daily lives, thereby strengthening the awareness that safeguarding national security is a shared responsibility, and fostering a society with wide public participation. These efforts also fortify the society against manipulation by agitators seeking to undermine national security and the harmful information they spread.
Smart Policing for a Safer Hong Kong, Delivering Greater Public Convenience
In today’s fast-changing world where technology is making rapid strides, public expectations of the Force have increased progressively. The Force must therefore keep pace with the times, proactively promote smart policing, and leverage technology to enhance operational and law enforcement effectiveness. These efforts not only support the policies of promoting artificial intelligence (AI) and Hong Kong’s smart city development as set out in the Policy Address, but also enable more efficient use of the Force’s resources, with a view to providing the public with better and more convenient services.
In 2025, the Force advanced around 30 smart policing initiatives and services for public convenience. Among them, the installation of approximately 5,000 cameras under the SmartView project has been completed, achieving the first-phase target. The project significantly enhanced the Force’s capability in crime detection. In a number of cases involving serious offences such as homicide and robbery, offenders were identified and apprehended within a short period, sometimes within hours, demonstrating remarkable results. The initiative has helped strengthen the overall sense of security in the society and bolster public confidence in the Force.
The Force also partnered with a local university to apply AI to collect and analyse real-time data of traffic flow and vehicle speed in designated commercial areas prone to frequent severe congestion. By working with the Transport Department to suitably adjust traffic signals, the travel times on busy road sections have been reduced by up to half, thereby alleviating traffic congestion, enhancing the commuting experience for the public, and significantly reducing the manpower required for traffic management in the relevant police districts.
In terms of service enhancement initiatives, the Force launched the brand new Hong Kong Police mobile application during the year. With a single login, users can access more than 50 police e-services. The application also features a chatbot ‘YesSir’ responding promptly to public enquiries. Furthermore, the Force has installed self-service kiosks at various police stations and MTR interchange stations to facilitate the reporting of lost property. These initiatives reflect the Force’s commitment to addressing public needs promptly and providing more convenient and reliable services.
In addition, the internationally recognised HKSOS emergency rescue mobile application, designed for hikers and people engaging in outdoor activities, has been further enhanced to shorten search and rescue time. In the two years up to the end of 2025, it had assisted nearly 300 persons in distress. On the other hand, the Scameter+ mobile application, which surpassed 1.15 million downloads during the year, has also been fully upgraded, with new functions such as automatic database updates, real-time AI analysis and alerts on fraudulent activities. Following the upgrade, public reports and searches for suspicious messages increased noticeably.
The series of innovative smart policing initiatives not only demonstrates the spirit of embracing change and pursuing innovation among colleagues of the Force, but also underscores the Force’s people-oriented approach and commitment to delivering services that meet public needs.
One Force, Advancing Side by Side
With more than 181 years of long-standing history, the Force has cultivated many fine traditions and culture values. Teamwork, being one of the core values of the Force, serves as a vital foundation for overcoming challenges and accomplishing all kinds of missions. As such, the Force must uphold its team culture in order to continue the delivery of quality policing services to the community.
During the year, a number of major territory-wide events and activities were held in a safe and orderly manner, including the opening of Hong Kong’s new landmark—Kai Tak Sports Park, and the international and local sports and entertainment mega events that followed; the 15th National Games, the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities and the 9th National Special Olympic Games of the People’s Republic of China; and the 2025 Legislative Council General Election. Despite the tremendous amount of preparation work and rigorous operational deployments, members across all units of the Force remained steadfast and united. They proactively collaborated with other government departments and relevant stakeholders in the community to accomplish each and every extremely challenging task, demonstrating the Force’s unwavering determination to move forward.
When the society faces adversity, police officers always stand at the forefront, safeguarding the public with professionalism and profound courage. Whether handling the disposal of a giant wartime bomb in the city centre or responding to incidents such as the strike of a super typhoon, colleagues in different roles performed their duties diligently and, undaunted by harsh and dangerous conditions, rendered critical and emergency care to those in distress. They displayed the spirit of dedication, courage and wholehearted cohesion, resolving these crises smoothly and allowing the city and people’s daily lives to quickly return to normality.
In 2025, Hong Kong experienced a disastrous fire. The Police Disaster Victim Identification Unit, the Casualty Enquiry Unit, together with other uniformed and crime units, worked tirelessly for days under extremely challenging conditions, enduring psychological strain and immense pressure. They spared no effort in identifying the bodies, tracing missing persons, preserving evidence and so on, in the hope of enabling the bereaved families to learn the whereabouts of their loved ones as soon as possible, and uncovering the cause of the incident to seek justice for the deceased and all those who were affected.
Challenges over the years have made colleagues of the Force more united and resolute in pursuing their commitment to serving the community. To effectively pass on this excellent team culture and deepen colleagues' sense of belonging, the Force has all along provided diversified training and development opportunities locally, in the Chinese Mainland and overseas to broaden their horizons and enhance their professional pride.
The Force continues to deepen its cooperation with law enforcement agencies worldwide, fulfilling Hong Kong’s role as a ‘super connector' by leveraging its unique advantages in connecting our country with the world. Through advancing collaboration across diverse fields, the Force has projected a positive image and demonstrated professional strengths to law enforcement agencies and other organisations around the world, thereby reinforcing the Hong Kong Police Force’s brand as being ‘Asia’s Finest’, in which our colleagues take great pride.
Bridging Past and Future, Pursuing Professional Excellence
In review, 2025 was a year of fruitful achievements for the Force across multiple fronts. The selfless contributions made by all Force members, including regular, civilian and auxiliary colleagues, towards the stability and prosperity of the nation and society have been widely recognised. Looking ahead, the Force will continue to work together and forge ahead with perseverance. Regardless of the challenges that lie ahead, we will continue to advance as ‘One Force’, suitably adjust to align with social development and dedicate to continuous improvement. By upholding the motto, ‘Serving Hong Kong with Honour, Duty and Loyalty’, the Force will work hand in hand with the public to safeguard Hong Kong, our home.
In 2026, the Force will host the 94th INTERPOL General Assembly in Hong Kong, a task of great national significance. We will make every effort to ensure the success of this major international event, strengthen global policing cooperation, and take the opportunity to present to the world the good stories of our country, Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Police Force.