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Hong Kong — Gun Facts, Figures and the Law

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ImpactsGun Death and Injury

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Number of Homicides (any method)

ChartIn Hong Kong, annual homicides by any means total

2004: 441
2003: 50
2000: 382
1999: 58
1998: 63
1997: 1003
1996: 73
1995: 73

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Rate of Homicide per 100,000 People (any method)

ChartIn Hong Kong, the annual rate of homicide by any means per 100,000 population is

2004: 0.651
2003: 0.73
2000: 0.562
1999: 0.86
1998: 0.95
1997: 1.543
1996: 1.16
1995: 1.19
1993: 1.234

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Number of Gun Homicides

ChartIn Hong Kong, annual firearm homicides total

2004: 01
2003: 3
2000: 12
1997: 23
1996: 4
1995: 3

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Rate of Gun Homicide per 100,000 People

ChartIn Hong Kong, the annual rate of firearm homicide per 100,000 population is

2004: 0.001
2003: 0.04
2000: 0.012
1997: 0.033
1996: 0.06
1995: 0.05
1993: 0.125

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Number of Suicides (any method)

In Hong Kong, annual suicides by any means total

1999: 8726

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Rate of Suicide per 100,000 People (any method)

ChartIn Hong Kong, the annual rate of suicide by any means per 100,000 population is

1999: 12.376
1993: 10.297

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Number of Gun Suicides

In Hong Kong, annual firearm suicides total

1999: 26

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Rate of Gun Suicide per 100,000 People

ChartIn Hong Kong, the annual rate of firearm suicide per 100,000 population is

1999: 0.036
1993: 0.078

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Number of Unintentional Gun Deaths

In Hong Kong, annual unintentional shooting deaths total

1996: 06

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Rate of Unintentional Gun Death per 100,000 People

ChartIn Hong Kong, the annual rate of unintentional shooting death per 100,000 population is

1996: 0.006
1993: 0.009

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Gun Deaths from Undetermined Cause

In Hong Kong, annual shooting deaths in which the cause remains undecided total

1996: 06

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Rate of Gun Death from Undetermined Cause per 100,000 People

ChartIn Hong Kong, the annual rate of unknown-cause shooting deaths per 100,000 population is

1996: 0.006
1993: 0.0010

TransfersGun Trade and Trafficking

Export Control

In Hong Kong, firearm and ammunition exports are limited by transfer control law 11

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Small Arms Exports (US$)

The annual value of small arms and ammunition exports from Hong Kong is reported to be US$118,75712 (2007)

Import Control

In Hong Kong, firearm and ammunition imports are limited by transfer control law 11

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Small Arms Imports (US$)

The annual value of small arms and ammunition imports to Hong Kong is reported to be US$2,701,61012 (2009)

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Market Cost of an AK-47 Assault Rifle (US$)

The asking price for an AK-47 pattern assault weapon in Hong Kong is reported to be US$45013

MeasuresGun Regulation

Firearm Law

Guiding gun control legislation in Hong Kong is the Firearms and Ammunition Ordinance14

Firearm Regulation Authority

Guns in Hong Kong are regulated by the Department of Justice15

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Gun Owner Licensing

In Hong Kong, only licensed gun owners14 may lawfully acquire, possess or transfer a firearm or ammunition

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Firearm Safety Training

In Hong Kong, an understanding of firearm safety and the law, tested in a theoretical and/or practical training course is required14 for a firearm licence

Gun Sales and Transfers

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Regulation of Dealer Gun Sales

In Hong Kong, dealing in firearms by way of business without a valid gun dealer’s licence is unlawful14

MeasuresInternational Controls

United Nations Membership

In the UN List of Member States, Hong Kong is not a Member State of the United Nations

Wassenaar Arrangement

The Wassenaar Arrangement on Export Controls and Conventional Arms and Dual-Use Goods and Technologies does not list16 Hong Kong as a Participating State
Last Updated on 11 June 2010

Short References

1.

UNODC.2006.‘Reported Overall Homicide Numbers and Rates per 100,000 Population for 64 Countries, 2003-04.’ Ninth United Nations Survey of Crime Trends and Operations of Criminal Justice Systems (2003 – 2004).Vienna:United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime,10 December. (Q9)Full Citation

2.

UNODC.2004.‘Recorded Intentional Homicide, Completed.’ Seventh United Nations Survey of Crime Trends and Operations of Criminal Justice Systems (1998-2000).Vienna:United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime,19 March. (Q91)Full Citation

3.

UNODC.2001.‘Hong Kong: Total Recorded Intentional Homicides (Completed) and Total Recorded Intentional Homicides Committed With a Firearm.’ Sixth United Nations Survey of Crime Trends and Operations of Criminal Justice Systems, covering the period 1995-1997.Vienna:United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime,27 June. (Q1334)Full Citation

4.

Krug, E G, K E Powell and L L Dahlberg.1998.‘Firearm-Related Deaths in the United States and 35 Other High- and Upper-Middle-Income Countries.’ International Journal of Epidemiology.Atlanta:National Centre for Injury Prevention & Control, Centres for Disease Control & Prevention / CDC,16 April. (Q1301)Full Citation

5.

Krug, E G, K E Powell and L L Dahlberg.1998.‘Firearm-Related Deaths in the United States and 35 Other High- and Upper-Middle-Income Countries.’ International Journal of Epidemiology.Atlanta:National Centre for Injury Prevention & Control, Centres for Disease Control & Prevention / CDC,16 April. (Q1297)Full Citation

6.

Jackson, Thomas.2005.‘Global Gun Deaths.’ NISAT Firearm Mortality Database 2005.Oslo:Norwegian Initiative on Small Arms Transfers,1 January. (Q12)Full Citation

7.

Krug, E G, K E Powell and L L Dahlberg.1998.‘Firearm-Related Deaths in the United States and 35 Other High- and Upper-Middle-Income Countries.’ International Journal of Epidemiology.Atlanta:National Centre for Injury Prevention & Control, Centres for Disease Control & Prevention / CDC,16 April. (Q1302)Full Citation

8.

Krug, E G, K E Powell and L L Dahlberg.1998.‘Firearm-Related Deaths in the United States and 35 Other High- and Upper-Middle-Income Countries.’ International Journal of Epidemiology.Atlanta:National Centre for Injury Prevention & Control, Centres for Disease Control & Prevention / CDC,16 April. (Q1298)Full Citation

9.

Krug, E G, K E Powell and L L Dahlberg.1998.‘Firearm-Related Deaths in the United States and 35 Other High- and Upper-Middle-Income Countries.’ International Journal of Epidemiology.Atlanta:National Centre for Injury Prevention & Control, Centres for Disease Control & Prevention / CDC,16 April. (Q1299)Full Citation

10.

Krug, E G, K E Powell and L L Dahlberg.1998.‘Firearm-Related Deaths in the United States and 35 Other High- and Upper-Middle-Income Countries.’ International Journal of Epidemiology.Atlanta:National Centre for Injury Prevention & Control, Centres for Disease Control & Prevention / CDC,16 April. (Q1300)Full Citation

11.

IANSA.2006.‘Reviewing Action on Small Arms 2006: Assessing the first five years of the UN Programme of Action.’ Biting the Bullet 'Red Book' 2006.New York:International Action Network on Small Arms and the Biting the Bullet project,26 June. (Q82)Full Citation

12.

Marsh, Nicholas.2011.‘Database of Authorised Transfers of Small Arms and Light Weapons.’ NISAT Small Arms Trade Database.Oslo:Norwegian Initiative on Small Arms Transfers,1 June. (Q16)Full Citation

13.

World Bank.2007.‘Available Kalashnikov Prices for Specific Countries and Periods.’ Small Arms Survey 2007: Guns and the City.Cambridge:Cambridge University Press,27 August. (Q3)Full Citation

14.

Hong Kong.1999.‘Tighter Controls on Arms and Ammunition Proposed.’ HKGIS Daily Information Bulletin.Hong Kong:Hong Kong Government Information Service,15 January. (Q1368)Full Citation

15.

Hong Kong.1997.‘Firearms and Ammunition Regulations 1997.’ Bilingual Laws Information System (BLIS).Hong Kong:Department of Justice,30 June. (Q1369)Full Citation

16.

Wassenaar Arrangement.1996.‘Introduction: Participating States.’ Wassenaar Arrangement on Export Controls and Conventional Arms and Dual-Use Goods and Technologies.Vienna:Wassenaar Secretariat,12 July. (Q19)Full Citation