Hong Kong CCTV Installation Guide: Dahua Systems, Public Housing Rules & Pricing (2026)
Share
Whether you want a camera or two at home to watch over elderly family members, kids, or pets, or you run a shop, office, or school that needs a reliable surveillance system, the market is flooded with different camera types, resolutions, and pricing — it's easy to buy the wrong spec, or even install a camera somewhere that breaks public housing rules.
Sun Cheong Computer (新昌電腦) has been rooted in Sham Shui Po's Apliu Street for over 20 years and is an authorised Dahua dealer, handling everything from camera selection to on-site assessment, installation, and after-sales warranty. Here's a straightforward breakdown of everything you need to know about installing CCTV in Hong Kong, so a technician's quote never catches you off guard.
Step 1: Wired or Wireless? Choosing the Right CCTV System
Home IP Camera Recommendations: Wireless Wi-Fi Cameras
- Best for: Households, studio flats, and DIY-minded users
- Pros: No need to run signal cables; highly flexible placement and great value
- Note: Despite being called "wireless," you still need a power outlet near the installation spot — "wireless" only refers to the video signal, not the power supply
Wired PoE Systems — Best for Shops & Businesses
- Best for: Shops, offices, and renovation projects where cabling can be pre-installed
- How it works: A single Ethernet cable carries both power and data
- Pros: The most stable signal, ideal for locations that need to run 24/7
Wired Systems Compared: BNC vs PoE
| Feature | BNC (Coaxial Cable) | PoE (Ethernet Cable) |
|---|---|---|
| Effective distance | Generally within 30m (short range); can also be run over Cat5e cable as an alternative | Full-copper Cat5e-or-better cable can reach up to 100m |
| Common use case | Retrofitting older analogue systems | New renovation projects, larger shops |
💡 Technician's tip: PoE is convenient because one cable handles both power and data — but it must be genuine full-copper cable. Cheap copper-clad-aluminium (CCA) cable significantly reduces the effective distance and can cause cameras to drop connection intermittently. If you're renovating, plan to run PoE cabling before plastering and painting — it improves image quality and stability later, and saves on surface-wiring labour costs.
Choosing Camera Resolution: 1080p vs 2K vs 4K Compared
| Resolution | Also known as | Pixel count | Recommended for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p | 1K | ~2 megapixels | General home use, budget-conscious buyers |
| 2K | — | ~4 megapixels | Small-to-medium shops needing clear facial detail |
| 4K | — | ~8 megapixels | Larger shops needing to zoom in on detail or read licence plates |
Tip: If you just want to check whether anything's out of place at home, 1080p is plenty — great value and easy on storage. But if you run a shop and need to clearly capture customer faces or licence plates for evidence purposes, go with 2K or above.
💡 Lens tip: Sun Cheong Computer typically fits customers with a 2.8mm wide-angle lens by default, giving roughly a 100° field of view and a clear effective range of about 3–7 metres — suitable for most homes and shops. If your site is larger, or you need to see further, ask our technician about telephoto lens options.
Night Vision: Black & White vs Full-Colour
- Standard black & white night vision: Uses infrared LEDs; footage at night appears in black and white — fine for basic monitoring
- Full-colour night vision with human detection: Some cameras detect a human shape and automatically trigger a white LED light when someone approaches, capturing full-colour footage at night with much clearer faces and clothing colours
If night-time footage quality matters to you — for shop theft prevention or building entrance monitoring, for example — we recommend a model with full-colour night vision and human detection.
How Many Cameras Do You Need for a 400 sq ft Unit or Shop?
A lot of customers ask "how many cameras do I need?" straight away — but there's no one-size-fits-all answer; it depends on the actual site. Using a 400 sq ft unit as a reference:
- Typical installation: 4–6 cameras
- Entrance: usually 2 cameras for primary coverage
- The remaining count depends on the interior layout, number of entry/exit points, windows, and other site-specific factors
Getting an Accurate Quote: 5 Questions to Think Through Before the Site Visit
- What's the actual floor area (in sq ft)?
- How many cameras do you want installed in total?
- Are the locations indoor or outdoor?
- How many days of footage do you need to keep?
- Do you need pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) control — i.e. a motorised camera you can remotely rotate via a phone app?
Thinking through these in advance makes communicating with the technician much faster, and results in a more accurate, tailored quote.
How Long Can Footage Be Stored? SD Card vs NVR Recorder
| Storage method | Typical retention | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| SD card (built into camera) | ~7–10 days | Basic home needs |
| NVR recorder | Up to 1–3 months | Shops and businesses needing longer records for evidence |
💡 Technician's tip: An SD card is stored inside the camera itself — if the camera is stolen or damaged, the footage goes with it. A separate NVR recorder keeps footage centrally stored somewhere more secure and less accessible. If your shop needs to handle labour disputes, theft evidence, or insurance claims, we strongly recommend adding an NVR to extend retention to 1–3 months for extra protection.
Public Housing (HKHA) Camera Installation Rules: Don't Break These!
This is a rule many public housing tenants overlook — but the consequences can be serious, so read carefully:
🚫 Cameras Are Strictly Banned Outside Your Front Door
Under Hong Kong Housing Authority policy, public housing tenants are strictly prohibited from installing any camera in common areas outside their unit's front door — this includes corridors, staircases, and the exterior of metal security gates.
Consequences of breaking this rule:
- Once discovered, the Housing Department will require immediate removal
- If a tenant refuses to comply, or the camera causes a nuisance to neighbours
- The Housing Department may take direct action — in serious cases, this can lead to tenancy termination and repossession of the unit
✅ Installing Inside Your Unit: Generally Fine, With One Key Condition
Installing a camera inside your unit — in the living room or entrance hall, for example — generally doesn't require approval. But remember:
The installation must not damage or alter the Housing Department's original structural walls, front door, or metal gate (for example, drilling holes or welding onto the gate or door is not allowed).
📌 Friendly reminder: The above is general guidance — individual housing estates may have additional rules, so we recommend checking the latest requirements with your estate office or the Housing Department before installing. You're also welcome to WhatsApp Sun Cheong Computer — our technicians can recommend a drill-free, damage-free installation method that complies with public housing rules.
CCTV Installation Pricing Guide (Sun Cheong Computer Reference Rates)
Installer pricing varies wildly across the market, and many customers worry about being overcharged. Here are Sun Cheong Computer's reference rates, published transparently:
On-Site Assessment (Site Survey) Fees
| Customer type | Area | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Private residential | Kowloon | HK$400 (waived if you proceed with installation; paid in cash to the technician after the visit) |
| Business / school / organisation | Kowloon | Free site survey |
| Private residential / business | Outside Kowloon | Please confirm pricing directly with our technician |
Installation Labour Fees (per camera, based on 20m of cabling)
| Installation method | Description | Reference fee (per camera) |
|---|---|---|
| Surface-mounted wiring | No protective conduit; secured with cable clips/cable ties to existing fixtures | HK$500 |
| PVC conduit | Cable encased in PVC conduit for a neater, more durable finish | ~HK$1,200 |
| Metal conduit | Depends on on-site materials and conditions | Quoted separately |
💰 Volume discount: The more cameras you install, the lower the average cost per camera — WhatsApp us for a multi-camera package quote.
Warranty Coverage
Sun Cheong Computer's warranty has two parts — it's worth understanding the difference:
① Manufacturer's Warranty
- Dahua cameras and NVR recorders come with a 1-year manufacturer's warranty covering hardware defects
② Installation Service Warranty (based on order value, starting from the day installation is completed)
| Order value | Installation warranty period |
|---|---|
| Over HK$4,000 | 7 days |
| Over HK$10,000 | 14 days |
| Over HK$20,000 | 30 days |
- Within the installation warranty period, one free follow-up site visit is included (materials charged separately)
- After the warranty period, each follow-up repair visit costs HK$600 (materials charged separately)
📌 The prices above are general reference figures only; actual charges depend on site conditions, cable length, and installation complexity. Please confirm the final quote with our technician on-site.
Why Choose Dahua + Sun Cheong Computer?
Dahua Product Advantages
- All Dahua products sold are international versions — as long as there's an internet connection, you can view and control your cameras via the mobile app from anywhere in the world, with no regional restrictions
- An internationally recognised brand and one of the industry's major manufacturers, with a stable supply chain
Sun Cheong Computer's O2O Advantage
- A physical store on Apliu Street, Sham Shui Po, established for over 20 years — see it, touch it, and know there's always someone to stand behind what you bought
- Authorised Dahua dealer — guaranteed genuine stock
- End-to-end service: on-site assessment, installation, and after-sales repair, all handled by our own technicians
- Order online, collect or ask questions in-store — our online and offline channels work together for extra peace of mind
Home Users vs Business Clients: Which Setup Is Right for You?
Whether you're after a cost-effective way to add basic monitoring at home, or your company or school needs a professional, stable surveillance system, here's a quick comparison:
| Need | Recommendation for home / consumers | Recommendation for business / schools / organisations |
|---|---|---|
| System type | Wireless Wi-Fi IP camera (easy DIY) | Wired PoE system (stable, built for continuous operation) |
| Resolution | 1080p is sufficient | 2K or above, for clearer facial detail |
| Storage | SD card (7–10 days) | NVR recorder (1–3 months, better for evidence) |
| Site survey fee | HK$400 (waived if you proceed) | Free |
Key Takeaways: 3 Things to Remember Before Installing CCTV
- Know your site details in advance: floor area, number of cameras, indoor/outdoor, storage duration, and whether you need PTZ control — sort these out with the technician upfront for a faster, more accurate quote
- Public housing tenants, mind the installation zone: cameras are strictly banned in common areas outside your front door, and even inside your unit, you can't damage the Housing Department's original structure
- Ask about both types of warranty and repair fees: Dahua hardware carries a 1-year manufacturer's warranty; the installation service warranty depends on your order value, and the wiring method (surface-mounted, PVC, or metal conduit) affects your total quote
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Can I install a camera outside my front door in public housing? No. Under Housing Department policy, installing any camera in common areas outside your front door (corridors, staircases, the exterior of metal gates) is strictly prohibited. Once discovered, you'll be required to remove it immediately, and in serious cases your tenancy could be terminated.
Q2: How long is the warranty after CCTV installation is complete? There are two parts: Dahua cameras and NVR recorders come with a 1-year manufacturer's warranty; the installation service warranty depends on your order value — 7 days for orders over HK$4,000, 14 days over HK$10,000, and 30 days over HK$20,000. The first follow-up site visit within the warranty period is free (materials charged separately); after that, each repair visit costs HK$600.
Q3: Can I view my Hong Kong home or shop's Dahua CCTV footage from overseas? Yes. All Dahua products sold are international versions — as long as there's an internet connection, you can view and control the system via the mobile app from anywhere in the world, with no regional restrictions.
Q4: Is there a charge for an on-site assessment (site survey)? Private residential customers in Kowloon are charged HK$400, which is waived if you proceed with installation. Business, school, and organisation clients in Kowloon get a free site survey. For areas outside Kowloon, please WhatsApp our technician to confirm pricing.
Book a Site Visit With Sun Cheong Computer's Technician Today
If you still have questions about CCTV installation, Dahua product specifications, or public housing installation rules after reading this guide, feel free to WhatsApp Sun Cheong Computer directly at 6467 8958, or visit our physical store at 246 Apliu Street, Sham Shui Po to speak with our technician in person — we'll help you sort out camera selection, pricing, and installation scheduling all in one visit.