Terrorism threat in Hong Kong ‘moderate’ amid Middle East war: security chief
Secretary for Security Chris Tang says city has one of world’s lowest crime rates despite having fewer CCTV cameras compared with other places
Hong Kong’s terrorism threat level remains moderate amid the escalating conflict in the Middle East, the city’s security chief has said, urging residents to stay vigilant in the globally connected city.
Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung said on Sunday that while no intelligence suggested an imminent attack, Hong Kong must “be prepared” and residents should report anything suspicious to police.
“The Russia-Ukraine war is not over, and there is conflict in the Middle East,” Tang told a radio programme. “Hong Kong is a relatively very safe place, but we must remain vigilant. The terrorism threat level in Hong Kong is still moderate – risks of attacks exist but there’s no specific intelligence [pointing to any attack].
“Hong Kong, as an international financial hub with high levels of inward and outward mobility, faces an inherent risk of attack.”
But Tang reassured the public that the city remained safe, as it has one of the world’s lowest crime rates despite having fewer closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras in public areas per square kilometre compared with other places.
As of 2025, authorities have installed some 4,000 CCTV cameras under a crime-fighting programme, with plans to expand the network to 60,000 by 2028.
With the US-Israel war against Iran now in its third week and showing no signs of abating, the Security Bureau’s outbound travel alert for both Iran and Israel remained at red, advising people to avoid non-essential trips.