Reply:
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Mr President,
(a)
(b)
(c)
It is the general practice of the Police to videotape major public meetings, processions and demonstrations irrespective of where they are held. Videotaping enables the Police to review their operations and crowd management strategy so that future deployment can be improved. In cases where offences are committed, such video-tapes may also be used as evidence in court. There had, for example, been a few cases for which people were charged and convicted with tapes being used as evidence.
Under normal circumstances, police officers could video-tape an event from a reasonable distance. On the occasion mentioned by the Honourable Member, three two-man teams were deployed to tape the procession. As the east-bound two lanes of Queen's Road East as well as the pavement were already occupied by the procession, and one lane was closed to ensure the safety of the procession, one of the video-teams had no alternative but to stand close to the edge of the second lane in order to avoid being hit by the oncoming traffic using the next (outer) lane, which was at that time the only lane open to traffic. As a result, the video team had to stand very close to the congregation which probably gave the unintended impression that they were taking close-up shots of members of the procession.
The videotapes are all securely locked up and access to them is strictly controlled. After senior police commanders have reviewed the tapes, they will be destroyed or wiped clean three months after the date of filming. Tapes required as evidence in a criminal proceeding may need to be kept until after the cases have been closed, and then destroyed.
In carrying out their duties, police officers are required to follow the following guidelines in videotaping:
(i)
the focus should be on the event, not the personalities; and
(ii)
filming should be carried out by officers conspicuously identified as police officers, who should be accompanied by officers in uniform where possible.
End
Officers deployed for such duties are fully trained and briefed to ensure that no undue alarm is caused to participants of public gatherings.