Understanding of policing in different generations

Abstract

This research seeks to examine the difference in meaning of policing between two different generations in Hong Kong. When we look into the history of Hong Kong police, the police force has experienced two major historical changes, being the shift from a paramilitary force to a service-oriented organization in 1995; and the transition from Royal Police to the HKSAR Police Force in 1997. These changes are critical in constructing the idea of policing in Hong Kong. Concerning people’s expectations, it is important to note that different generations that have or have not experienced these changes should have formed different views to the idea of policing. Based on the in-depth interviews with 20 local residence, in which half of them are 18-year-old or above in 1997 and the others are below 25-year-old at the time of interview, this research identifies three main differences in their understandings of policing: (i) Younger generation focuses more on civil right and older generation focuses more on social stability; (ii) Younger generation tends to politicalize police action; and (iii) Younger generation expects policing to be more diversified.