As he prepares to step down from his role, Hong Kong Deputy Police Commissioner Andrew Kan Kai-yan has publicly identified artificial intelligence as a significant emerging threat to national security. Kan’s comments follow a similar warning issued last week by Chen Yixin, China’s Minister of State Security, who emphasized the necessity of establishing robust risk prevention frameworks to manage the rapid development of AI.

While Kan highlighted the risks associated with the technology, he also noted that the Hong Kong police force is actively integrating AI tools into its own operations to better combat these evolving threats. The focus remains on how AI might be utilized by bad actors to undermine stability, a concern that has become a priority for security officials in both Hong Kong and mainland China.

There is a clear consensus among the officials cited that AI represents a dual-use challenge: it is both a tool for criminal or subversive activity and a necessary resource for law enforcement to adopt. However, the reports do not detail the specific types of AI-driven threats being monitored, nor do they specify the exact nature of the technology the police force is deploying in response. The discourse reflects a broader regional push for stronger global governance and internal oversight of emerging digital technologies to ensure they do not compromise state security.