Photo of the day No. 48 - Traffic Wardens in Hong Kong
A pointless, thankless task, are their days numbered?
Me Jamie, your host, I am English and I have lived in Hong Kong for 53 years - I know the place.
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Photo of the day No. 48 - Traffic Wardens in Hong Kong
A pointless, thankless task, are their days numbered?
A fairly typical Hong Kong Traffic Warden, all that’s missing is a gun! this is Princes Building on Chater Road, a known parking violation hot spot in Hong Kong
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What is the role of a Traffic Warden in Hong Kong
In Hong Kong, a Traffic Warden is a civilian employee of the Hong Kong Police Force responsible for managing traffic and enforcing traffic-related regulations. Their primary role is to ensure the smooth and safe flow of vehicular and pedestrian traffic, particularly in busy urban areas. Here are the key responsibilities and roles of a Traffic Warden in Hong Kong:
Traffic Control: Traffic Wardens direct and regulate traffic at road junctions, pedestrian crossings, and other busy areas to prevent congestion and ensure safety.
Enforcement of Traffic Regulations: They issue fixed penalty tickets (fines) for parking violations and other minor traffic offenses, such as illegal parking or stopping in restricted zones.
Assisting Pedestrians: They help pedestrians, especially at crossings, to navigate roads safely, often assisting school children, the elderly, or disabled individuals.
Support During Events or Emergencies: Traffic Wardens may be deployed to manage traffic during public events, roadworks, accidents, or emergencies to maintain order and safety.
Reporting Offenses: They report serious traffic violations or incidents to the police for further investigation.
Public Interaction: They provide assistance and information to the public regarding traffic rules, directions, or road conditions.
Traffic Wardens typically wear distinctive uniforms (often high-visibility vests) and work under the supervision of the Hong Kong Police Force’s Traffic Branch. They are not sworn police officers but play a crucial role in maintaining traffic discipline and public safety. Their presence is especially vital in densely populated areas like Hong Kong Island and Kowloon, where traffic congestion is common.
Well that is the role of a Traffic Warden in Hong Kong and thanks to GROK i learned something I never actually knew and that is that Traffic Wardens are civilian employees of the Hong Kong Police Force and it just clicked, although the uniform colour is different the style is quite similar and yes, all that is missing is a gun!
Now here is the thing, I have never driven a car in my life but I am a car fanatic (I have uploaded to my Flickr image site over 106,000 car images and as such I have observed them on the job over the years and I have to say, I do not like them much, even less so that they still continue for the most part to wear surgical masks.
I think that they have the idea that they have the same status as our regular Police Officers, they have a strut about them and quite a few (like this one in the image I took on June 3rd 2025) love to bark out orders in an angry voice and in general I sense a lack of trust in them from the motoring public or pedestrians trying to cross roads.
What I witnessed yesterday was a typical encounter, this is at Princes Building on Chater Road in the Central Business District which is a known traffic hotspot because at various times during the day, cars can park 2 abreast whilst waiting for sir or madam who are in Princes Building, The Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong or an office building in the area. This causes major traffic congestion particularly since the Murray Road Car Park ( a minutes drive away ) was demolished
So the Traffic Warden crosses the road and barks an order and the cars start their engines and move off very slowly, 20 seconds later they reverse back to where they where parked as the traffic warden disappears around the corner, that is what they think of a traffic warden.
Well the parking violations on Chater Road where one of the first targets, see below, I imagine the car owners will just pay the fixed penalty fine, even if it is every day!
The Automatic issuance of Parking Tickets for all manner of traffic violations using CCTV - 3 month trial programme started in late April 2025
In Hong Kong, CCTV footage is being used to issue parking tickets for traffic violations, specifically illegal parking and unauthorized pick-ups/drop-offs. This is part of a pilot scheme where traffic police are monitoring footage from Transport Department cameras in designated areas to identify violators. The system records license plate numbers and timestamps, and fixed penalty notices are issued after driver identities are verified.
Key aspects of the CCTV-based ticketing system:
Pilot Scheme
The system is initially being tested in four high-congestion intersections on Hong Kong Island and in Central.
Focus on Violations:
The system targets offenses like stopping in restricted zones, blocking yellow box marking areas, and unauthorized stops.
Automated Monitoring:
Officers monitor live feeds and can issue fixed penalty notices remotely based on the captured footage.
Data Retention:
Recorded footage is deleted after a certain period unless it is used for a specific purpose like crime prevention or detection, according to the PCPD.
Privacy Concerns:
While the system does not include facial recognition, concerns about data privacy have been raised.
Future Expansion:
The pilot scheme is being evaluated with the possibility of expanding to other districts in the future.
Public Awareness:
Police have been distributing leaflets and banners to warn drivers about the new enforcement measures.
Intelligent Parking Robots:
additionally, intelligent parking ticket robots equipped with HD cameras, 4G wireless transmission, and AI image analysis are being used to monitor traffic violations, according to Kwiksure.
So, will modern technology and AI be the downfall of the Traffic Warden in Hong Kong? some how I do not think so! they will continue to strut around like wannabe police offices barking out orders and being ignored by drivers and the public., a thankless task but the Government pays well!
Finally this is some of the text in a recent newspaper article in Hong Kong with a senior Police Office being quoted.
“Superintendent of traffic management Nip Hoi-kwan explained that the new approach aims to create a lasting deterrent, as traditional on-site enforcement often sees violations resume shortly after police leave the area.
“We hope drivers will think twice before breaking traffic rules," he said during a radio program on Tuesday.
The trial locations include Queen’s Road Central at its intersections with Ice House Street, Pedder Street, and Bonham Strand East, as well as Queen’s Road East and Wong Nai Chung Road.
Nip noted that enforcement will prioritize violations that contribute to severe traffic congestion, while police resources would be adjusted based on time and demand, with fewer officers deployed for late-night offenses when traffic is lighter.
The system does not operate around the clock; instead, officers must manually activate recording when monitoring violations.
Nip also acknowledged certain limitations of the system, including its inability to enforce pedestrian-related violations such as jaywalking, as it lacks facial recognition technology.
Nip emphasized that the cameras are intended to supplement, not replace, traditional patrols.“
My insider tip
Please note that in general if you book a tour on Viator or Tripadvisor you generally have NO control over what guide will lead your Private Tour of Hong Kong and this is the most important component of the tour. I urge you to check the actual company website and book via their website and do not forget to read Tripadvisor reviews as well.
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