Hong Kong not to ban camera phones in swimming pools, locker rooms

Hong Kong has decided not to enact a law banning camera phones in swimming pools and locker rooms, according to an article today in The Standard. The article notes the Secretary for Home Affairs, Patrick Ho, said such a law "would cause inconvenience to the majority of law-abiding users of leisure facilities and would be extremely difficult to enforce."

Ho sent a letter to Fre Li, a member of the Legislative Council who asked a question about the possibility of a ban, noting there have been reports in the media about camera phone photos taken in swimming pools and locker rooms.

Ho replied, "It does not necessarily mean that anyone carrying such mobile phones into a changing room intends to commit an unlawful act....If these phones were prohibited, it would affect the law-abiding majority. There would also be enforcement difficulties."

No cause for alarm

Li said, "Current legislation now prohibits residents from carrying video recorders into cinemas to prevent piracy. Can the government apply the same logic and prohibit devices with photographic functions from being taken into these facilities, particularly changing rooms?''

Ho said the police last year received 12 complaints about "clandestine photography," with most of the complaints about photographing women. He said seven offenders were fined or imprisoned for crimes that included loitering, disorderly behaviour in public places and offences against public decency.

The article quotes Ho as saying, "On average, there is one such offence every month and there is no sign of an upward trend." He noted that the staff at swimming pool are inspecting locker rooms to make sure there isn't any inappropriate behavior using camera phones.

More cases

The Hong Kong Security Council sent a reply to the Legislative Council, saying that last year there were 42 cases of clandestine recording or peeping last year. The incidents involved people with video cameras or camera phones who photographed women.

The photographs/videos usually were taken in crowded locations, such as escalators and shopping centers.

Twenty one people were convicted, and two received prison terms. Of the remainder, one was given a suspended sentence, 12 were placed on probation or had to perform community work orders and six were fined.

Respecting rights of the innocent

In our world of terrorism -- that holds dangers not to be underestimated -- all too often individual rights are being eroded in the name of security. It's nice to hear at least one government official take a reasoned approach to camera phones.

Much of the time the approach by government officials ban first, and consider the consquences later.