Bachelor of Arts (BA) - The University of Hong Kong

325SOCI0054.Triads and organized crime (6 credits)In Hong Kong, Triads are known to have been long involved in the illegal businesses of drugs, gambling,prostitution, loan sharking, debt collecting and smuggling. Triads are also notorious for organizedextortion from legitimate businesses, such as the entertainment industry, street hawking, wholesalemarkets and minibus services, interior decoration business, the trading of properties, and the film industry.Since Hong Kong Triads are believed to be increasingly active in drug trafficking, human smuggling, andeconomic organized crime such as credit card fraud, counterfeiting, and money laundering, Westernpolice foresee that Hong Kong Triads are replacing the Italian Mafia as the most powerful criminalorganization in the world in the next century. Are these contentions correct? In order to understand whatTriads exactly do in different kinds of organized crime, this course is specifically designed to analyse therole of Hong Kong Triads in legal, illegal, and international markets.Assessment: coursework: 40%; examination: 60%.SOCI0055.A cultural study of tourisms and tourists (6 credits)The phenomenal growth of tourism in contemporary societies is of major social and culturalsignificance. This course introduces students to a cultural study of tourism viewed as a complex socialphenomenon connected with social and cultural dynamics. Special attention will be given to Asian andChinese experiences, not only as guest societies, but also as host societies.Assessment: 40% coursework, 60% examination.SOCI0056.Criminal justice: policy and practice (6 credits)This course primarily aims to familiarize students with the idea that criminal justice can be viewed as asystem consisting of interaction between three main components: police, courts, and corrections.Criminal investigation, arrest, prosecution, trial, conviction, sentence, incarceration, and communitysupervision will be examined. Attention will also be given to the formation and implementation ofcriminal justice policy. Students will be afforded the opportunity to explore a number of criminaljustice systems found in other parts of the world but special attention will be devoted to the Hong Kongcriminal justice system.Assessment: 40% coursework, 60% examination.Prerequisite: None, but SOCI0057 recommended.SOCI0057.Crime and deviance I: an introduction to criminology (6 credits)The course introduces students to criminology as both an applied and academic discipline. The subjectmatter of criminology is diverse involving research drawn from many disciplines including medicine,law and sociology. The course begins by focusing on the state of crime in Hong Kong and introducesstudents to the operations, functions and nature of the various criminal justice agencies involved in thecontrol of crime. The course also provides a general review of the major theoretical approaches andissues in understanding and measuring crime.The course also provides an applied component which emphasizes the principles and practice ofinvestigative interviewing - a core skill in the criminal justice system. Related topics covered toenhance the context of investigative interviewing include victimology, the investigative process and therole of forensic sciences (corroboration), and the legal rights of the suspect. Students will be required tovisit courts, prisoner treatment programmes and participate in interviewing exercises and practicums.Assessment: 50% coursework, 50% examination.