The Phnom Penh Municipal Hall on Monday issued a statement reminding residents to not fly drones in the capital, particularly around the flight paths of aircraft that are landing and taking off.

The statement also reminded residents of a similar 2016 announcement that forbade them from flying drones in the capital.

The government, it said, has rationalised that implementation of the ban was “to ensure respect for the people’s privacy as well as to maintain security, safety and public order”.

The statement also said that following the issuance of the announcement in February 2016, people have cooperated to abide by the regulations, even though there were still a handful of hobbyists who flew drones without permission.

Phnom Penh Governor Khuong Sreng said the restriction was aimed to “avoid inadvertent danger due to drone flying”.

Municipal Hall spokesperson Meth Meas Pheakdey said the recent statement simply reminds the people that the authority would take legal action against “any defiant individuals”.

“Some people do not know that flying drones [in the capital] is not allowed. Therefore, we reminded them through the announcement on [social and mass media], to make them aware of the regulation as well as the consequences of not complying with the ban,” he said.