Aerial patrols enhance enforcement

In 2025, the Food & Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) cracked a case of illegal goat slaughtering. The premises involved were located in a remote rural area and concealed from view. Accordingly, a key factor in foiling the perpetrators was the use of aerial intelligence.

Aerial surveillance : The FEHD cracked a case of illegal goat slaughtering last year, with drones serving as a key investigative tool. Image source: www.news.gov.hk

Officers used drones to capture footage, then cross-referenced this with aerial photographs taken by the Lands Department. This allowed them to identify suspicious locations.

The FEHD outlined that using drones to collect evidence reduces the need for manned patrols, boosts efforts to combat illegal slaughtering activities, illegal meat distribution centres and unlicensed food premises, and improves staff safety.

Expanded capabilities

Explaining the limitations of traditional methods, Food & Environmental Hygiene Department Senior Superintendent (Operations) Lo Chi-man remarked: “Relying solely on manpower-based patrols, plain-clothes operatives could only conduct surveillance in the vicinity of the target premises. Operatives also faced significant safety risks such as potential violence, aggressive dogs and structural hazards.”

After the introduction of drones, however, intelligence can now be gathered at high altitude, adopting a bird’s eye view. This allows operatives to clearly map entry or exit points, personnel distribution, suspicious vehicle locations and escape routes in advance.

Risk reduction: FEHD Senior Superintendent (Operations) Lo Chi-man says that operatives using traditional detection methods faced greater safety risks. The deployment of drones can therefore improve staff safety while boosting efficiency. Image source: www.news.gov.hk

Smart inspections

Beyond intelligence gathering, the FEHD has been working with the Electrical & Mechanical Services Department since 2025 to study the feasibility of using drones to support street cleanliness inspections.

Under planned trials, drones will conduct automated aerial patrols along pre-set routes in order to detect accumulated rubbish, overflowing litter bins and damaged refuse collection facilities. The captured images will then be analysed using artificial intelligence, enabling the FEHD to arrange timely follow-up actions.

Enhanced efficiency: FEHD Senior Superintendent (Innovation & Technology) Kuan Man-hou says adopting an automated inspection system will allow the department to analyse street cleanliness more quickly and accurately. Image source: www.news.gov.hk

Food & Environmental Hygiene Department Senior Superintendent (Innovation & Technology) Kuan Man-hou highlighted that street cleaning inspections largely depend on frontline staff making in-person site visits. Officers are required to carry out visual checks and take photos to record conditions. However, some locations are remote and transport can be inconvenient, so the trips are often time-consuming.

With the automated inspection system, however, the FEHD will be able to analyse street cleanliness more quickly and accurately, enabling more effective deployment of manpower and resources.

Drone docking stations are expected to be installed on top of public toilets managed by the FEHD, serving as bases for take-off, landing and charging. The team revealed that flight tests for the project will commence soon.

Phased trials: Electrical & Mechanical Services Department Senior Engineer (Drones, Robotics & Automation) Vanessa Yau says her team is seeking operational approval from the Civil Aviation Department for drone use. Image source: www.news.gov.hk

Phased trials

Electrical & Mechanical Services Department Senior Engineer (Drones, Robotics & Automation) Vanessa Yau said her team is applying to the Civil Aviation Department for operational approvals.

”The trials will be conducted in two main stages. In the first stage, flights under visual line of sight and extended visual line of sight will be tested. Once stable performance is achieved, beyond-visual-line-of-sight operations will be tested for fully automated aerial patrols.”

Joint project: The FEHD is working with the Electrical & Mechanical Services Department to study the feasibility of using drones to support street cleanliness inspections. Image source: www.news.gov.hk

The new measure allowing dogs into restaurants took effect today (July 9), with the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) confirming more than 940 food premises had completed the amended licensing procedures by July 7.

The new measure allowing dogs into restaurants took effect today (July 9).

In response to enquiries, FEHD said it has deployed dedicated staff to visit each approved food premise in person, delivering approval letters and providing detailed briefings on legal requirements, licensing conditions, and other relevant compliance measures. The department will also regularly update its dedicated website, publishing information on approved establishments for public reference.

The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD), Photo source: reference image

To ensure the smooth implementation of the new measures, FEHD has set up a 90-member dedicated team to step up inspections at approved restaurants during the initial adaptation period, helping the trade comply with relevant regulations and address operational queries. The department said it would adopt an "education-first, enforcement-second" approach during this period to help the industry adjust to the new arrangements. However, it stressed that serious violations, such as allowing fighting dogs or known dangerous dogs into restaurants, or permitting dogs into food preparation areas, would be met with enforcement action as appropriate.