Policing the Police in Asia: Police Oversight in Japan, Hong Kong, and Taiwan [Paperback]

This brief offers an overview of the prevailing debates in police oversight and accountability through an analysis of policing in Hong Kong, Japan, and Taiwan. It places emphasis on three major controversies of oversight: professionalism, representation, and empowerment. Arguing that traditional models do not accurately depict variations in police systems in Asia, the volume aims to bring attention to the implementation of these three concepts and clearly articulate the power relationship within these Asian police oversight mechanisms. This brief will be a useful resource for researchers in policing as well as criminologists, political scientists, and sociologists, particularly those specializing in East Asia.

1.  Introduction: A birds-eye view of policing and police oversight mechanism in Hong Kong, Japan and Taiwan.- 2. Professionalism: a scarecrow for non-democratic policing system in HK.- 3. Representation: police oversight mechanism in democrative Japan.- 4. Empowerment: a unique, constitutionally empowered police oversight mechanism in Taiwan.- 5. Conclusion.

Dr Lawrence Ka-ki Ho is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Social Sciences at the Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong. His research interests are the history and sociology of policing, comparative policing practices, public order management, criminal justice systems, and public policies. Lawrence is currently undertaking several research projects on Hong Kong policing and comparative policing practices, including the professionalization of Hong Kong Police, the transforming role of the policewomen; policing in colonial & SAR Hong Kong & Macau, private policing in Hong Kong, youth and deviance policing, and comparative policing strategies for protest management.

Jason Kwun-hong Chan is a PhD Candidate at the Department of Public Policy, City University of Hong Kong. He is interested in private police, policing studies, social movement, lx