Hong Kong location scout checklist: what to check on site and how to record it

Recces usually happen in two rounds

The English Wikipedia article "Location scouting" describes the process like this: the locations department first gathers possible locations and passes them to the production (often the assistant director, production manager and director or executive producer) to shortlist; once there are a few of the most promising options, the heads of department visit together to confirm, a round known in English as the "tech scout" or "recce".

The same article also lists what "clearing the location" involves: confirming the dates the location is available, agreeing a fee with the owner, obtaining proof of insurance, applying for the filming permits needed, and, where required, sending filming notices to the neighbours. Only when all of these are settled is the location "locked".

Check item by item on site

Power

• The position and number of sockets, and how many circuits they are on; where the switchboard is and who has the key.
• The total power draw of lights and equipment, whether the circuits on site can handle it, and whether breakers will trip.
• Whether you need a generator, where it can go, and whether it will be in shot or affect sound.

According to the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department, the supply voltage in Hong Kong is 220 volts (single-phase) and 380 volts (three-phase). For equipment rented or brought from elsewhere, check first that the voltage and plugs are compatible.

Noise and sound

Stand at the planned camera position and listen quietly for two minutes: air-conditioner outdoor units, extractor fans, traffic, markets, flight paths, school bells. Note down the sources and when they occur, then ask the management office whether controllable machinery can be switched off during filming.

Also check whether there are construction sites nearby. According to the Environmental Protection Department, a construction noise permit is required to use powered mechanical equipment for general construction work between 7 pm and 7 am the next day, or at any time on a public holiday (including Sundays). In other words, general construction work on weekdays in the daytime does not need this permit, so for daytime filming, expect that nearby sites may be working.

Conversely, the crew makes noise too. The Environmental Protection Department explains that section 4 of the Noise Control Ordinance (Cap. 400) controls annoying noise from domestic premises or public places between 11 pm and 7 am the next day, or on public holidays. If night scenes are scheduled near homes, assess the impact on neighbours in advance.

Sun direction

• Use a compass or your phone to note the direction the main windows, doors and street face.
• The Hong Kong Observatory's interactive sun path diagram lets you enter a time and coordinates to calculate the sun's position at that moment, which helps you judge whether sunlight will shine straight in at a given time.
• The Observatory also publishes daily sunrise, sun transit and sunset times through DATA.GOV.HK, which you can use to work out the usable daylight for exterior day scenes.

If the recce and the shoot are at different times of day, the light in your photos will mislead you. If you can, go back once more at the same time as the shoot.

Transport and parking

• Where the equipment truck parks, how far it is from there to the set, and whether there are stairs or lifts.
• The nearest MTR station or bus stop, how cast and crew get there on their own, and whether transport is still running at wrap.
• Parking on the road or loading and unloading equipment may need separate applications. The Film Promotion and Facilitation Section's list of forms includes "Use of parking spaces on public roads", "Parking of filming vehicles on public roads", and "Loading and unloading equipment in restricted zone/prohibited zone/ bus lane/closed road (TD 606)", among others.

Toilets, rest and meals

For a full shoot day, confirm whether there are toilets you can use, their opening hours, and whether crew are allowed to use them. Also find a place for equipment, make-up, changing and meals, ideally separate from the filming area so they do not get in each other's way.

Neighbours and property management

• The management office's contact person, office hours, and rules on arrival, loading and unloading, and use of the goods lift.
• The security registration procedure, and whether lists of crew and vehicles must be submitted in advance.
• Whether the building or estate requires a filming notice to be posted, or the crew to hand out notice letters to neighbours. Wikipedia mentions that notifying neighbours is a local requirement in many places.

Who grants permission

First ask who manages the ground you are standing on: private property is approved by the owner or management company; public spaces, parks, government property and waters each have different departments (see Filming permits in Hong Kong: which department to start with). For filming in public places, the location filming notification section of the Film Promotion and Facilitation Section's list includes a form for the Hong Kong Police Force's Public Relations Wing. One set may involve two managers at once: a shop is approved by its owner, for example, while the pavement outside the door is public space. If you plan aerial shots, see also Filming with drones in Hong Kong.

Weather backup

Wikipedia suggests agreeing a "weather hold" arrangement in advance with the owner of any location that may be affected by weather, so that if filming is postponed or cancelled because of weather, cancellation fees can be reduced or waived. The Labour Department also advises employers to set work arrangements for adverse weather in advance, with employees' safety as the first consideration. A Labour Department press release in May 2026 states that when the Amber, Red or Black Rainstorm Warning Signal is issued during working hours, supervisors of employees working outdoors and in open areas should suspend all outdoor work as soon as practicable and arrange for employees to take shelter in a safe place. Exterior shoots can draw on these principles and agree before the shoot what will happen in a rainstorm or typhoon.

How to record it

Make one recce report page per location, in the same format, so locations are easy to compare. We suggest including:

Put the location name and date in photo file names, so you can find them later.

After the recce

Once a location is chosen, two documents Wikipedia mentions need to be settled: a location contract signed by all parties, and the owner's written permission to film and show the location in media (a property release). Proof of insurance is often a condition of entry for the venue owner (see Production insurance in Hong Kong: what is required).

Once the location is confirmed, write the actual shooting location back into the breakdown and the stripboard (see Building the stripboard). The address, parking and toilet details on the call sheet also come from the recce report, and you can organise them with the call sheet generator. If you have not found a suitable location, you can post a hire request through our partner platform PropBid on this site's filming locations page.

Frequently asked questions

What should I bring on a recce?

A camera or phone, a compass (or your phone's compass), a tape measure, notes, and a recce report in a fixed format. If possible, bring the people responsible for sound and lighting with you.

What time should I go on a recce?

Ideally at the same time of day as the shoot, because light, noise and foot traffic all change with the time. The Hong Kong Observatory's sun path diagram and sunrise and sunset times can help you judge the light at different times.

What should I watch for when shooting night scenes near homes?

The Environmental Protection Department explains that section 4 of the Noise Control Ordinance controls annoying noise from domestic premises or public places between 11 pm and 7 am the next day and on public holidays. Assess the impact of night scenes on neighbours in advance, and talk to the management office.

Does a private location still need government applications?

It depends on the filming area. Inside the property, the owner gives approval, but if you need the pavement outside, parking on the road, or loading and unloading equipment, you may need separate applications to the relevant departments. The Film Promotion and Facilitation Section's list of forms sets out the different applications.

References

1. Wikipedia, "Location scouting" (English): en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Location_scouting
2. Electrical and Mechanical Services Department, electricity classroom page on current, voltage and power (Chinese page): eld.emsd.gov.hk/eic/tc/electricity-classroom/classroom04.html
3. Environmental Protection Department, noise management page on the Noise Control Ordinance (Chinese page): www.epd.gov.hk/epd/noise_education/web/CHI_EPD_HTML/m3/ordinance_7.html
4. Hong Kong e-Legislation, Cap. 400 Noise Control Ordinance (Chinese version): www.elegislation.gov.hk/hk/cap400!zh-Hant-HK
5. Hong Kong Observatory, interactive sun path diagram (Chinese page): www.hko.gov.hk/tc/gts/astronomy/SunPathDay3_ue.htm
6. DATA.GOV.HK, Hong Kong Observatory dataset of sunrise, sun transit and sunset times (Chinese page): data.gov.hk/tc-data/dataset/hk-hko-rss-times-of-sunrise-suntransit-sunset
7. Film Promotion and Facilitation Section, permits and application forms (Chinese page): fpf.ccidahk.gov.hk/tc/forms/index.php
8. Labour Department, work arrangements in times of adverse weather and "extreme conditions" (Chinese page): www.labour.gov.hk/tc/public/typhoon.htm
9. Government press release (Chinese), on employers and employees setting work arrangements for adverse weather and extreme conditions in advance (2026-05-04): www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202605/04/P2026043000264.htm

The pages above were accessed on 31 October 2026. Form names from the Film Promotion and Facilitation Section are quoted from the English version of its list; other page descriptions are our translations of the Chinese titles.

Published 25 September 2026. Last updated: 31 October 2026.