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Hong Kong — Gun Facts, Figures and the Law

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StockpilesGun Numbers

Civilian Guns

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Number of Privately Owned Firearms

The estimated total number of guns (both licit and illicit) held by civilians in Hong Kong is

2017: 265,0001

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Rate of Civilian Firearm Possession per 100 Population

The estimated rate of private gun ownership (both licit and illicit) per 100 people in Hong Kong is

2017: 3.601

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Number of Registered Firearms

The number of registered guns in Hong Kong is reported to be

2017: 3.601

Government Guns

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Number of Law Enforcement Firearms

Police in Hong Kong are reported to have 28,0002 firearms

ImpactsDeath and Injury

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Total Number of Gun Deaths

ChartIn Hong Kong, annual deaths resulting from firearms total

2013: 03
2012: 2
2011: 14
2010: 0

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Rate of All Gun Deaths per 100,000 People

ChartIn Hong Kong, the annual rate of all gun deaths per 100,000 population is

2013: 03
2012: 0.03
2011: 0.01
2010: 0

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Total Number of Male Gun Deaths

ChartIn Hong Kong, annual male deaths resulting from firearms total

2013: 03
2012: 2
2011: 1
2010: 0

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Total Number of Female Gun Deaths

ChartIn Hong Kong, annual female deaths resulting from firearms total

2013: 03
2012: 0
2011: 0
2010: 0

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Homicides (any method)

ChartIn Hong Kong, annual homicides by any means total

2015: 225
2014: 27
2013: 273
2012: 18
2011: 23
2010: 37
2009: 47
2008: 36
2007: 18
2006: 35
2005: 34
2004: 456 7 8
2003: 52
2002: 696 7
2001: 66
2000: 386 9
1999: 589
1998: 63
1997: 10010
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

2015: 0.305
2014: 0.37
2013: 03
2012: 0.03
2011: 0.01
2010: 0
2009: 0.7
2008: 0.5
2007: 0.3
2006: 0.5
2005: 0.5
2004: 0.76 7 8
2003: 0.8
2002: 1.06 7
2001: 1.0
2000: 0.66 9 7
1999: 0.869 7
1998: 0.95
1997: 1.5410 7
1996: 1.16
1995: 1.19
1993: 1.2311

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Male Homicide Victims (any method)

ChartIn Hong Kong, annual male homicides by any means total

2013: 153
2012: 10
2011: 8
2010: 17

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Female Homicide Victims (any method)

ChartIn Hong Kong, annual female homicides by any means total

2013: 123
2012: 8
2011: 15
2010: 20

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Gun Homicides

ChartIn Hong Kong, annual firearm homicides total

2013: 03
2012: 0
2011: 0
2010: 06
2009: 0
2008: 0
2007: 0
2006: 1
2005: 1
2004: 08
2003: 3
2000: 19
1997: 210
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

2013: 03
2012: 0
2011: 0.04
2010: 0.0012
2009: 0.00
2008: 0.00
2007: 0.00
2006: 0.01
2005: 0.01
2004: 0.008
2003: 0.04
2000: 0.019
1997: 0.0310
1996: 0.06
1995: 0.05
1993: 0.1213

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Proportion of Homicides Committed With a Gun

ChartIn Hong Kong, the percentage of homicides committed with a firearm is reported to be

2010: 0%6
2009: 0%
2008: 0%
2007: 0%
2006: 3%
2005: 3%
2004: 0.0%7
2003: 5.8%
2000: 2.3%
1997: 2.0%
1996: 5.5%
1995: 4.1%

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Male Gun Homicide Victims

ChartIn Hong Kong, annual male firearm homicides total

2013: 03
2012: 0
2011: 0
2010: 0

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Female Gun Homicide Victims

ChartIn Hong Kong, annual female firearm homicides total

2013: 03
2012: 0
2011: 0
2010: 0

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Suicides (any method)

ChartIn Hong Kong, annual suicides by any means total

2013: 9993
2012: 822
2011: 821
2010: 1,008
1999: 87214

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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

2013: 14.113
2012: 11.66
2011: 11.68
2010: 14.34
1999: 12.3714
1993: 10.2915

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Male Suicide Victims (any method)

ChartIn Hong Kong, annual male suicides by any means total

2013: 6193
2012: 513
2011: 506
2010: 629

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Female Suicide Victims (any method)

ChartIn Hong Kong, annual female suicides by any means total

2013: 3803
2012: 309
2011: 315
2010: 379

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Gun Suicides

ChartIn Hong Kong, annual firearm suicides total

2013: 03
2012: 2
2011: 14
2010: 0
1999: 214

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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

2013: 03
2012: 0.03
2011: 0.01
2010: 0
1999: 0.0314
1993: 0.0716

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Male Gun Suicide Victims

ChartIn Hong Kong, annual male firearm suicides total

2013: 03
2012: 2
2011: 1
2010: 0

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Female Gun Suicide Victims

ChartIn Hong Kong, annual female firearm suicides total

2013: 03
2012: 0
2011: 0
2010: 0

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Unintentional Gun Deaths

ChartIn Hong Kong, annual unintentional shooting deaths total

2013: 03
2012: 0
2011: 0
2010: 0
1996: 014

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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

2013: 03
2012: 0
2011: 0
2010: 0
1996: 0.0014
1993: 0.0017

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Unintentional Male Gun Deaths

ChartIn Hong Kong, annual unintentional male shooting deaths total

2013: 03
2012: 0
2011: 0
2010: 0

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Unintentional Female Gun Deaths

ChartIn Hong Kong, annual unintentional female shooting deaths total

2013: 03
2012: 0
2011: 0
2010: 0

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Gun Deaths from Undetermined Cause

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

2013: 03
2012: 0
2011: 0
2010: 0
1996: 014

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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: 0.0014
1993: 0.0018

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Male Gun Deaths from Undetermined Cause

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

2013: 03
2012: 0
2011: 0
2010: 0

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Female Gun Deaths from Undetermined Cause

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

2013: 03
2012: 0
2011: 0
2010: 0

TransfersGun Trade and Trafficking

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Firearm Exports

In Hong Kong, firearm and ammunition exports are limited by transfer control law19

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Small Arms Exports (US$) - Customs

ChartThe annual value of small arms and ammunition exports from Hong Kong is reported by Customs to be US$

2016: 2,941,55420
2015: 2,769,960
2014: 1,754,510
2013: 6,917,960
2012: 673,716
2011: 021

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Small Arms Exports - World Ranking

In a comparison of the world's major/mid-level/minor/unknown small arms exporters, Hong Kong was categorized as 'major'22

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Firearm Imports

In Hong Kong, firearm and ammunition imports are limited by transfer control law19

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Small Arms Imports (US$) - Customs

ChartThe annual value of small arms and ammunition imports to Hong Kong is reported by Customs to be US$

2016: 6,987,79220
2015: 6,126,688
2014: 4,372,870
2013: 8,769,708
2012: 6,148,969
2011: 1,478,85921

MeasuresGun Regulation

Firearm Law

Guiding gun control legislation in Hong Kong includes the Firearms and Ammunition Ordinance23

Firearm Regulation Authority

Guns in Hong Kong are regulated by the Department of Justice24

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Right to Possess Firearms

In Hong Kong, the right to private gun ownership is not guaranteed by law25 26

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Gun Ownership and Possession

In Hong Kong, only licensed gun owners23 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 required23 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 unlawful23

MeasuresInternational Controls

United Nations Membership

In the UN List of Member States, Hong Kong is not a Member State of the United Nations27

Wassenaar Arrangement

The Wassenaar Arrangement on Export Controls and Conventional Arms and Dual-Use Goods and Technologies does not list28 Hong Kong as a Participating State

Short References

1.

Karp, Aaron.2018.‘Civilian Firearms Holdings, 2017.’ Estimating Global Civilian-Held Firearms Numbers.Geneva:Small Arms Survey, the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Geneva,18 June. (Q13434)Full Citation

2.

Karp, Aaron.2018.‘Law Enforcement Firearms Holdings, 2017.’ Estimating Global Law Enforcement Firearms Numbers.Geneva:Small Arms Survey, the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Geneva,18 June. (Q13435)Full Citation

3.

WHO.2016.‘Inter-country Comparison of Mortality for Selected Causes of Death.’ WHO Mortality Data Base.Geneva:World Health Organisation,1 December. (Q13354)Full Citation

4.

Waiselfiz, Julio Jacobo.2015.‘Number and Rate of Gun Deaths in 90 Countries (Número e taxas de mortalidade por AF segundo causa básica em 90 países do mundo).’ Violence Map: Deaths by Firearms (Mapa da Violência: Mortes Matadas por Armas de Fogo).Brasilia:Facultad Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales / Latin American Social Sciences Institute,1 January. (Q11896)Full Citation

5.

UNODC.2017.‘Intentional Homicide Victims.’ Crime and Drugs Data.Vienna:United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime,19 May. (Q13355)Full Citation

6.

UNODC.2014.‘Homicides and Gun Homicides in Hong Kong.’ Global Study on Homicide 2013: Trends, Context, Data.Vienna:United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC),10 April. (Q10255)Full Citation

7.

UNODC.2013.‘Homicide in 207 Countries - Hong Kong.’ Global Study on Homicide 2011: Trends, Context, Data.Vienna:United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime,26 June. (Q6319)Full Citation

8.

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

9.

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

10.

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

11.

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, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention / CDC,16 April. (Q1301)Full Citation

12.

GunPolicy.org.2015.‘Calculated Rates - Hong Kong.’ Historical Population Data - USCB International Data Base.Suitland, MD:US Census Bureau Population Division,15 June. (Q10285)Full Citation

13.

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, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention / CDC,16 April. (Q1297)Full Citation

14.

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

15.

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, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention / CDC,16 April. (Q1302)Full Citation

16.

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, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention / CDC,16 April. (Q1298)Full Citation

17.

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, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention / CDC,16 April. (Q1299)Full Citation

18.

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, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention / CDC,16 April. (Q1300)Full Citation

19.

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, NY:International Action Network on Small Arms and the Biting the Bullet project,26 June. (Q82)Full Citation

20.

United Nations.2018.‘National Customs Data on Small Arms Exports and Imports - Hong Kong.’ UN Comtrade International Trade Statistics Database.New York NY:United Nations Statistics Division,1 January. (Q13416)Full Citation

21.

Marsh, Nicholas.2014.‘Database of Authorised Transfers of Small Arms and Light Weapons.’ NISAT Small Arms Trade Database.Oslo:Norwegian Initiative on Small Arms Transfers,22 December. (Q16)Full Citation

22.

Holtom, Paul, Irene Pavesi and Christelle Rigual.2014.‘Exporters of Small Arms Based on UN Comtrade, 2011.’ Small Arms Survey 2014: Women and Guns.Cambridge:Cambridge University Press and the Small Arms Survey, the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Geneva,16 June. (Q11037)Full Citation

23.

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

24.

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

25.

Sherman, Amy and Tom Ginsburg.2014.‘Gun Rights in National Constitutions.’ Marco Rubio Says Second Amendment Is Unique in Speech to NRA.Miami, FL:Miami Herald (PolitiFact Florida),29 April. (Q8507)Full Citation

26.

Zachary Elkins, Tom Ginsburg and James Melton. 2013. ‘U.S. Gun Rights Truly Are American Exceptionalism.’ Bloomberg (USA). 7 March. (N422) Full Citation

27.

UN.2013.‘Member States of the United Nations.’ UN.org Web Site.New York, NY:United Nations General Assembly,7 April. (Q290)Full Citation

28.

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