Police have proposed spending some HK$5.2 billion on a new communications system that can transmit real-time messages involving video, voice and pictures, in a bid to enhance law enforcement.

The force said while its current system runs on a radio-based standard developed in the 1990s, its counterparts in many other cities, including those in Shanghai and Hangzhou, have moved on to more advanced systems, thanks to the development of the 5G network.

"[The force] proposes to build the [system] to improve the operational efficiency of policing and emergency services, address national security needs, and reduce the potential risks associated with geopolitical tensions by establishing a reliable, highly stable, sustainable, and more secure communications network," it said in papers submitted to the legislature.

Police say building the new system can help fight crime and protect public safety by allowing officers to share multimedia information more efficiently.

The non-recurrent funding application will be made in two years, and officials will assess whether recurrent money is needed if the project gets the go-ahead.

Separately, the force has proposed spending another HK$390 million on setting up a centralised platform for storage and processing of video footage.

Currently, officers gather evidence and analyse intelligence by recording and collecting videos, which are stored in DVDs.

The force said the new platform will allow for more efficient and systematic retrieval of images, and improve their case detection and intelligence analysis capabilities.