Legislation[edit]

Before 1 October 1996, private security personnel were regulated by the Watchmen
Ordinance (Chapter 299). However, there were many problems with that system of regulation—for
example, there were no restrictions as to whom may establish private security service companies to
provide security services to a client. Also, there was no regulation of people whom may perform
installation of security systems. Some employers hired "caretakers" instead of security guards to
avoid their responsibilities under the ordinance (in formal definition, "caretakers" are supposed to
provide facilities management service, although security service, which provided to residential
properties, takes some parts of facilities management service). As a result, the Hong Kong
Government enacted a wholly new law, the Security and Guarding Services Ordinance (Chapter
460), to replace the Watchmen Ordinance.
According to the Security and Guarding Services Ordinance: No individual shall do, agree to do, or
hold himself/herself out as doing, or as available to do, security work for another person unless
he/she does so-

 Under and in accordance with a permit; or

 Otherwise than for reward.[34]

Security work means any of the following activities-

 Guarding any property;

 Guarding any person or place for the purpose of preventing or detecting the occurrence of
any offence; (Replaced 25 of 2000 s. 2)
 Installing, maintaining or repairing a security device;
 Designing for any particular premises or place a system incorporating a security device.

Security device means a device designed or adapted to be installed in any premises or place, except
on or in a vehicle, for the purpose of detecting or recording- (Amended 25 of 2000 s. 2)

 The occurrence of any offence; or

 The presence of an intruder or of an object that persons are, for reasons of security, not
permitted to bring onto the premises or place or any other premises or place. [3