Policing in Hong Kong by Wong Kam C

Author:Wong, Kam C.
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Taylor & Francis (CAM)
Published: 2012-03-13T16:00:00+00:00

V. The Discovery of Computer Crime in Hong Kong by the Public

Cyber risk is a psychology phenomenon. Computer crimes are an intangible entity. Electronic privacy is a moral concept. None of them are real or material. That is to say, they have to gain public awareness—cognitive recognition and emotional resonance—before they become real and of consequence to people.

Historically and culturally,55 China has no conception of intellectual rights.56 As far as history is concerned, the past holds the key to the future, and in China’s past the leaders in the philosophy of governance were the emperors Yao and Shun and perfect statehood was found in the Zhou Dynasty.57 As for culture, the writings of the sages contain the secrets of Chinese civilization and generations of students were taught to recite the classical literature of old.58 Scores of intellectuals were expected to regurgitate these writings of the past; all officials were required to be conversant with and to justify their action by historical materials, classical literature and the sayings of sages. Not only is it not a crime to quote classical texts without crediting the authors, it is considered a sign of intellectual prowess to be able to recite at will passage after passage, sometimes verbatim, of learned treatises. It is not, therefore, deemed an infringement of one’s property right but rather judged deference to ones knowledge to be cited, with or without attribution.59

Hong Kong people are a pragmatic lot. They are known for seeking fast money rather than following established principles. Thus, instead of honoring the rights of others and respecting the rule of law, they endeavor to work around rules and find short cuts.60 To them anything and everything in life is a “game” to be won at all costs.61

Given this understanding of China’s historical approach to intellectual property and contemporary Hong Kong people’s mindset toward copyrights, it should come as no surprise that in Hong Kong people do not take intellectual property rights seriously, nor understand computer crime completely.62 In this regard it is taking time to re-educate the people of Hong Kong.

The “discovery” of cyber risk, computer crime and electronic privacy resulted from the convergence of a number of factors, including post-1997 privacy concerns, government IT security concerns, private e-banking security considerations, foreign anti-privacy and anti-counterfeiting campaigns, domestic moral outrage at off-shore Internet gambling, and public awareness of sensational computer crime news.63

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