Police powers and accountability in China and Hong Kong: a comparative perspective

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study police powers and accountability from a comparative perspective in both China and Hong Kong.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper compares and contrasts police powers and accountability.

Findings

The implications are many, including different political systems in which China is more authoritarian or paternalistic whereas Hong Kong is more pluralistic; checks and balances mechanisms in Hong Kong are far greater than in China; and the concept of accountability to the public is different in that Hong Kong police are accountable to members of the public but the mainland Chinese police force has a limited and top-down concept of accountability.

Originality/value

An original comparative approach to policing in Hong Kong and China.

Citation

Chan, R. (2014), "Police powers and accountability in China and Hong Kong: a comparative perspective", Asian Education and Development Studies, Vol. 3 No. 3, pp. 243-252. https://doi.org/10.1108/AEDS-08-2014-0036