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CHINA
Crime
& Safety
Despite the new veneer of individual freedom, China is still basically
a police state, with the State interfering with and controlling
the lives of its subjects to a degree most Westerners would find
it hard to tolerate - as indeed many of the Chinese do.
This should not affect foreigners much, however, as the State on
the whole takes a hands-off approach to visitors - they are anxious
that you have a good time rather than come away with a bad impression
of the country. Indeed, Chinese who commit crimes against foreigners
are treated much more harshly than if their victims had been native.
The police (or Public Security Bureau ) are recognizable by their
green uniforms and caps, though there are a lot more around than
you might at first think, as plenty are undercover. They have much
wider powers than most Western police forces, including establishing
the guilt of criminals - trials are used only for deciding the sentence
of the accused (though this is changing and China now has the beginnings
of an independent judiciary). If the culprit is deemed to show proper
remorse, this will result in a more lenient sentence. Laws are harsh,
with execution - a bullet in the back of the head - the penalty
for a wide range of serious crimes, from corruption to rape.
Crime is a growth industry in fast-changing China, with official
corruption and juvenile offences the worst problems. Much crime
is blamed on spiritual pollution by foreign influence, the result
of increasing liberalization. But serious social problems, such
as mass unemployment, are more to blame, as is the let's-get-rich
attitude that has become the prevailing ideology. However, there
is no need for paranoia; China is still safer to travel in than
many Western countries
Emergency contacts
In mainland China dial the following numbers in an emergency: Police
tel 110 Fire tel 119 Ambulance tel 120 In Hong Kong and Macau ,
dial tel 999 for any of the emergency services. |
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