Accessing Crime Data in Hong Kong: Haunted by Fragmentation

The integrity and quality of crime data have sparked extensive debate in criminological research. This paper examines both official and unofficial crime data in Hong Kong since its 1997 handover, highlighting the unique features and conditions of crime data from different sources. It starts with an analysis of post-1997 crime trends, outlining overall patterns and notable shifts in key crime categories over time. The study then introduces fragmentation as a conceptual framework to identify three major challenges facing Hong Kong’s crime data infrastructure, namely definitional, technical, and institutional fragmentation. By exploring the limitations of disorganized and decentralized data, this study argues that fragmentation is structurally embedded in the institutional configuration of Hong Kong’s crime data system. One particular aim of this study is to advance new research directions to bridge existing gaps and enhance the role and functionality of crime data in informing crime and public policies.