Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Crime and Criminal Justice in Hong Kong

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Handbook of Asian Criminology

  • 2881 Accesses

Abstract

Now that 15 years have passed since the reversion of Hong Kong’s sovereignty to China in 1997, and despite China’s “One Country, Two Systems” promise, there is still a controversy of whether Hong Kong has been able to enjoy a truly free hand in managing its own affairs, or has been subject to China’s covert or overt control. One social issue that is a thermometer of this debate is the status quo of the criminal justice system. This paper firstly describes how official and unofficial crime statistics are gathered, and how they portray the crime situation in Hong Kong. Next, the features of the major components of the criminal justice system are briefly reviewed. Developed on the basis of the common law of the British, the criminal justice system in Hong Kong is one of the best indicators of the degree of autonomy that Hong Kong can exercise in the post-1997 period. The paper also reviews the changes of the criminal justice system in Hong Kong since 1997, and discusses the new challenges ahead for the criminal justice system. The main challenges concern the need of the Hong Kong SAR Government to establish a new instrumental legitimacy of its legal system, and the increasingly violent confrontations of political protestors with the government that undermine law and order.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 259.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 329.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 329.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Broadhurst, R., Lee, K. W., & Chan, C. Y. (2008). Crime trends. In W. H. Chui & T. W. Lo (Eds.), Understanding criminal justice in Hong Kong (pp. 45–68). Cullompton: Willan Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Census and Statistics Department. (2007). Thematic household survey report No. 31: Crime and its victims in Hong Kong in 2005 (A report on the crime victimization survey conducted in January–May 2006 by the Census and Statistics Department under the auspices of the Fight Crime Committee). Hong Kong: Census and Statistics Department, Government of the Hong Kong SAR, China.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chan, K. M. (2001). Uncertainty, acculturation, and corruption in Hong Kong. International Journal of Public Administration, 24, 909–928.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cheung, Y. W. (1997). Family, school, peer and media predictors of adolescent deviant behavior in Hong Kong. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 26(5), 569–596.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cheung, Y. W., & Ch’ien, J. M. N. (1996). Drug use and drug policy in Hong Kong: Changing patterns and new challenges. Substance Use & Misuse, 31(11&12), 1573–1597.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cheung, N. W. T., & Cheung, Y. W. (2006). Is Hong Kong experiencing normalization of adolescent drug use? Some reflections on the normalization thesis. Substance Use & Misuse, 41(14), 1967–1990.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cheung, Y. W., & Cheung, N. W. T. (2009). Counting crime in Hong Kong. In M. Gaylord, D. Gittings, & H. Traver (Eds.), Introduction to crime, law and justice in Hong Kong (pp. 35–53). Hong Kong: Hong Kong University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cheung, Y. W., & Ng, A. M. C. (1988). Social factors in adolescent deviant behaviour in Hong Kong: An integrated theoretical approach. International Journal of Comparative and Applied Criminal Justice, 12(1), 27–45.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Coleman, C., & Moynihan, J. (1996). Understanding crime data: Haunted by the dark figure. Buckingham: Open University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Correctional Services Department. (2011). About us. http://www.csd.gov.hk/english/abt/abt_vis/abt_vis.html

  • Customs and Excise Department. (2011). Departmental review 2011. http://www.customs.gov.hk/filemanager/common/pdf/pdf_publications/Departmental_Review_2011_e.pdf

  • Department of Social Work and Social Administration. (2005). Study on child abuse and wife battering: Report on findings of household survey. Hong Kong: Department of Social Work and Social Administration, University of Hong Kong (Principal investigator: Professor K. L. Chan). Study Commissioned by Social Welfare Department, Government of the Hong Kong SAR, China.

    Google Scholar 

  • Garofalo, J. (1979). Victimization and the fear of crime. Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, 16(1), 80–97.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gaylord, M. S. (2009). Customs and excise department. In M. Gaylord, D. Gittings, & H. Traver (Eds.), Introduction to crime, law and justice in Hong Kong (pp. 78–90). Hong Kong: Hong Kong University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gaylord, M. S., Gittings, D., & Traver, H. (2009). Introduction to crime, law and justice in Hong Kong. In M. Gaylord, D. Gittings, & H. Traver (Eds.), Introduction to crime, law and justice in Hong Kong (pp. 1–16). Hong Kong: Hong Kong University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gaylord, M. S., & Traver, H. (1994). The Hong Kong criminal justice system. In M. S. Gaylord & H. Traver (Eds.), Introduction to the Hong Kong criminal justice system (pp. 1–14). Hong Kong: Hong Kong University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gittings, D. (2009). Hong Kong judiciary. In M. Gaylord, D. Gittings, & H. Traver (Eds.), Introduction to crime, law and justice in Hong Kong (pp. 147–167). Hong Kong: Hong Kong University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hagan, J. (1985). Modern criminology: Crime, criminal behavior, and its control. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hindelang, M. J., Hirschi, T., & Weis, J. G. (1982). Measuring delinquency. Beverly, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • HKFYG (Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups). (2007). Youth Research Centre. http://www.hkfyg.org.hk/yrc/english/yr-yrc.html

  • Home Affairs Bureau. (2002). Report on a study of Hong Kong people’s participation in gambling activities. Hong Kong: Department of Applied Social Sciences and General Education Centre, Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Study commissioned by Home Affairs Bureau, Government of the Hong Kong SAR, China.

    Google Scholar 

  • Home Affairs Bureau. (2005). Report on a study of Hong Kong people’s participation in gambling activities. Hong Kong: Social Science Research Centre, University of Hong Kong. Study commissioned by Home Affairs Bureau, Government of the Hong Kong SAR, China.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hong Kong Police. (2007). Updated counting rules. Hong Kong: Statistics Office, Hong Kong Police Force, Government of the Hong Kong SAR, China.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hong Kong Police. (2011). Police in figures. http://www.police.gov.hk/ppp_en/09_statistics/index.html

  • Hood, R., & Sparks, R. (1970). Key issues in criminology. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.

    Google Scholar 

  • ICAC (Independent Commission Against Corruption). (2010). ICAC 2010 annual report. Hong Kong: Independent Commission Against Corruption, Government of the Hong Kong SAR, China.

    Google Scholar 

  • Information Services Department. (2010). Customs and excise, Hong Kong: The facts. Hong Kong: Information Services Department, Government of the Hong Kong SAR, China.

    Google Scholar 

  • Joe Laider, K. (2005). The rise of club drugs in a heroin society. Substance Use & Misuse, 40(9–10), 1257–1278.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Joe Laider, K. (2009). Correctional services department. In M. Gaylord, D. Gittings, & H. Traver (Eds.), Introduction to crime, law and justice in Hong Kong (pp. 185–203). Hong Kong: Hong Kong University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones, C., & Vagg, J. (2007). Criminal justice in Hong Kong. London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Judiciary. (2011). Webpage of Judiciary. http://www.judiciary.gov.hk/en/crt_services/pphlt/html/guide.htm

  • Lau, R. W. K. (2008). The police force. In W. H. Chui & T. W. Lo (Eds.), Understanding criminal justice in Hong Kong (pp. 93–114). Cullompton: Willan Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee, R. P. L. (Ed.). (1981). Corruption and its control in Hong Kong. Hong Kong: The Chinese University of Hong Kong Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Livingston, J. (1992). Crime & criminology. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lo, T. W. (1994). The independent commission against corruption. In M. S. Gaylord & H. Traver (Eds.), Introduction to the Hong Kong criminal justice system (pp. 63–77). Hong Kong: Hong Kong University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lo, J. M. K. (2001). Controlling corruption in Hong Kong: From colony to special administrative region. Journal of Contingencies and Crisis Management, 9, 21–28.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Manion, M. (2004). Corruption by design: Building clean government in Mainland China and Hong Kong. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Narcotics Division. (2010). The 2008/09 survey of drug use among students: Executive report. Hong Kong: Narcotics Division, Security Bureau, Government of the Hong Kong SAR, China.

    Google Scholar 

  • O’Brien, R. M. (1996). Police productivity and crime rates: 1973–1992. Criminology, 34(2), 183–207.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Quah, J. S. T. (2010). Defying institutional failure: Learning the experiences of anti-corruption agencies in four Asian countries. Crime, Law and Social Change, 53, 1–23.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shapland, J. M. (1978). Self-reported delinquency in boys aged 11 to 14. British Journal of Criminology, 18, 255–266.

    Google Scholar 

  • Social Welfare Department. (2007). Statistics on child abuse, battered spouse and sexual violence cases. http://www.swd.gov.hk/vs/english/stat.html

  • Tang, C. S. K. (1998). The rate of physical child abuse in Chinese families: A community survey in Hong Kong. Child Abuse & Neglect, 22(5), 381–391.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Transparency International. (2011). Corruption perceptions index 2010 results. http://transparency.org/policy_research/surveys_indices/cpi/2010/results

  • Wong, D. S. W. (2004). School bullying and tackling strategies in Hong Kong. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 48(5), 537–553.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wong, D. S. W., Lok, D. P. P., Lo, T. W., & Ma, S. (2002). A study of school bullying in primary schools in Hong Kong. Hong Kong: Department of Applied Social Studies, City University of Hong Kong.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Sociology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong, China

    Yuet Wah Cheung Ph.D. & Nicole W. T. Cheung Ph.D.

Authors
  1. Yuet Wah Cheung Ph.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Nicole W. T. Cheung Ph.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yuet Wah Cheung Ph.D. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Sociology, University of Macau, Taipa, Macao, Macao

    Jianhong Liu

  2. Centre for Criminology and Criminal Just, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom

    Bill Hebenton

  3. School of Criminology, National Taipei University, Taipei, Taiwan R.O.C.

    Susyan Jou

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2013 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Cheung, Y.W., Cheung, N.W.T. (2013). Crime and Criminal Justice in Hong Kong. In: Liu, J., Hebenton, B., Jou, S. (eds) Handbook of Asian Criminology. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-5218-8_12

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation