999 Emergency Calls to Add Real-Time Video and AI Triage
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On 17 October 2026, Secretary for Security Tang Ping-keung said the Policy Address proposes enhancing the 999 emergency call service by adding a real-time video function and instantly transmitting report information to the Fire Services Department, so the fire services control centre can talk to the caller and view live footage at the same time. He also said artificial intelligence technology will be used to triage different types of reports, for example handling fire reports by priority, and it is currently estimated the new functions will be launched in 2028. In follow-up reports the same day, Tang Ping-keung further said he hopes members of the public will in future report incidents using commonly available social media applications, such as WhatsApp and WeChat, making on-scene assessment more precise. He stressed the measure is not replacing the 999 phone line, but adding voice, video and image information to the emergency help process, and believed it will not affect 999 answering speed; instead, operators can obtain more on-scene information, making on-scene assessment, resource deployment and the overall response more precise and faster.
Generated by AI from reporting · updated 3 days ago
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- 明報·即時港聞Tang Ping-Keung Hopes Public Will Use Social Apps to Report Cases, Making On-Site Assessment More Precise
The Policy Address proposes enhancing the 999 emergency help service. Secretary for Security Tang Ping-Keung said the new function upgrades the current voice-based 999 help service to real-time video calls, hoping the public will in future report cases using commonly available social apps such as WhatsApp and WeChat. He stressed the measure is not replacing the 999 phone line, but adding sound, image and visual information to the emergency help process. He believes it will not affect the 999 answering speed, but instead give operators more on-site information, making on-site assessment, resource deployment and overall response more precise and faster.
- 香港電台·即時本地Tang Ping-Keung: 999 Service to Add Real-Time Video and AI Triage, Expected to Launch in 2028
Secretary for Security Tang Ping-keung says the Policy Address proposes enhancing the 999 emergency call service, adding a real-time video function and instantly transmitting report information to the Fire Services Department, so the fire services control centre can talk to the caller and view live footage at the same time. He also says artificial intelligence technology will be used to triage different types of reports, for example handling fire reports by priority, and it is currently estimated the new functions will launch in 2028.
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