Security Companies Inspection Unit

The Security Companies Inspection Unit (SCIU) of the Crime Prevention Bureau is responsible for the examination of applications by security companies for security company licences in accordance with the Security and Guarding Services Ordinance (SGSO). The SGSO was gazetted on 1 June 1995 to provide for a licensing scheme to regulate the security industry in Hong Kong.

The SGSO has been enacted to promote and encourage higher standards of service in the security industry, thereby assisting the fight against crime. The SCIU is commanded by a Chief Inspector of Police, who has two teams carrying out inspections of licensed companies and a third responsible for investigations into breaches of the SGSO.

The SCIU conducts background checks on applicant companies prior to a thorough and detailed physical inspection of the applicant’s place of business.

A set of detailed criteria is followed during each inspection and includes the examination of areas such as training, vetting, operational procedures, armoured vehicle and vault construction, control room construction and operation, etc. SCIU also carries out regular inspections of Licensed Companies to ensure standards are maintained.

Legal Provisions of the SGSO

Under the Ordinance, an individual who performs such security work (for a fee or reward) for another person is required to apply for a permit issued by the Commissioner of Police (SP Licensing).

Likewise, a company supplying individuals (who perform security work for a fee or reward) to another person, must be in possession of a Security Company Licence, issued by the Security and Guarding Services Industry Authority (SGSIA).

The SGSIA was established to consider and determine applications for licences by security companies. It will hear evidence given by the applicant and the SCIU, and will not issue or renew a licence unless it is first satisfied that the applicant is suitable.

Security work is defined under the SGSO to mean any of the following activities:

1. guarding any property;
2. guarding any person or place for the purpose of preventing or detecting the occurrence of any offence;
3. installing, maintaining or repairing a security device; and
4. designing for any particular premises or place a system incorporating a security device.

A security device is defined as a device designed or adapted to be installed in any premises or place, except on or in a vehicle, for the purpose of detecting or recording:

1. the occurrence of any offence; or
2. the presence of an intruder or of an object that persons are, for reasons of security, not permitted to bring onto the premises or place or any other premises or place.

A Security Company Licence is issued by the SGSIA, and may be endorsed to undertake any of the following types of security work:

Application forms for licences can be obtained from the SGSIA at:

Security and Guarding Services Industry Authority
Room 813
8/F, Kowloon East Government Offices,
12 Lei Yue Mun Road,
Kwun Tong,
Kowloon.
(next to the Kwun Tong Magistracy)
Tel: (852) 2801 6181
Fax: (852) 2537 5118