Comparative Study of Environmental Crimes in Mainland China and Hong Kong

Author: Lu Yonghong
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-04-01
Features: "The Criminal Law Science Series" is the main series of works projects of the Criminal Law Science Research Center of Renmin University of China. It plans to publish original works and translations on criminal law and criminal jurisprudence (including criminal law, criminology, criminal execution law, criminal procedure law, criminal investigation, criminal forensic technology, criminal legal history, and other fields) that are innovative, in-depth, and substantial. The authors and translators are primarily composed of full-time and part-time researchers of the center, with an open invitation to domestic and international experts and scholars. The publisher has already published works such as Research on Dangerous Crimes, Research on Accomplice Liability, Comparative Study on the System of Recidivism, and On the Prevention of Torture. This article conducts an in-depth comparative study of environmental crime legislation and judicial practice in mainland China and Hong Kong. The mainland system, centered on the traditional concept of criminal offenses, targets severe environmental pollution acts in legislation, enforces through a cross-departmental approach led by public security organs, and applies strict criminal sentencing in the adjudication of environmental crime cases. In contrast, the Hong Kong system, centered on the codified concept of criminal offenses, fully criminalizes environmental pollution acts in legislation, enforces through an independent approach led by the Environmental Protection Department, and adheres to strict adherence to established judicial procedures in the adjudication of environmental crime cases. Overall, while both regions can punish offenders who violate environmental laws, they have yet to effectively control and deter environmental crimes.