The main duties oflaw enforcement inHong Kong are taken up by theHong Kong Police Force.[1] Other majorlaw enforcement agencies (LEAs) include theCustoms and Excise Department, theIndependent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC),Hong Kong Correctional Services department, theImmigration Department. The Commissioner of the ICAC reports directly to theChief Executive, and the heads of the other three agencies report toSecretary for Security.
Minor duties such as hawkers' regulation and anti-smoking are nevertheless assumed by officers of othergovernment departments, including theFood and Environmental Hygiene Department, theLeisure and Cultural Services Department and theHousing Department. Compliance with fire safety requirements is overseen by theFire Services Department.
Hong Kong criminal law is enforced through judgments of the courts.[2]
In 1844, the first Police Ordinance in Hong Kong was enacted and Royal Hong Kong Police Force was established.[1] In 1997, following theHandover of Hong Kong, law enforcement fell under overall jurisdiction of China and the Royal Hong Kong Police Force became the Hong Kong Police Force.[1]
The2019–2020 Hong Kong protests andCOVID-19 pandemic garnered global media attention on the role of law enforcement Hong Kong and highlighted issues with public trust of law enforcement.[3][4]
In January 2024, a new regulation onArrangement on Reciprocal Recognition and Enforcement of Judgments in Civil and Commercial Matters was enacted by the courts of mainland China and Hong Kong. The regulation establishes a mechanism for the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of all elegal judgments in civil and commercial matters between mainland China and Hong Kong.[5]