The Crimes Ordinance (), last amended in 2024, is a law of Hong Kong relating to certain consolidated penal enactments. Like Macau, penal and criminal law in Hong Kong is generally different from what is applied in China (the National Security Law being a notable exception).
The Crimes Ordinance lists some, but not all, criminal offences in Hong Kong, with other major offences like the Offences against the Person Ordinance () and Theft Ordinance () punishing offences against the person and theft respectively.
History The ordinance consolidated the original Crimes Ordinance of 1971 with several other ordinances: Coinage Offences Ordinance (Cap. 204) Criminal Intimidation Ordinance (Cap. 205) Explosive Substances Ordinance (Cap. 206) False Personation Ordinance (Cap. 207) Falsification of Documents Ordinance (Cap. 208) Forgery Ordinance (Cap. 209) Perjury Ordinance (Cap. 214) Punishment of Incest Ordinance (Cap. 216) Sedition Ordinance (Cap. 217)
Structure The Crimes Ordinance is structured by Part as follows (this table includes both provisions in force and provisions repealed):
+ The Crimes Ordinance Part Former or current title Sections Current status -- Title § 1 In force I Treason §§ 2 - 5 Repealed in 2024 II Offences Against the Crown §§ 6 - 18 Repealed in 2024 III Piracy and Other Offences At Sea §§ 19A - 23C In force IV Intimidation §§ 24 - 27 In force V Perjury §§ 28 - 46 In force VI Incest §§ 47 - 51 In force VII Explosive Substances §§ 52 - 58 In force VIIA Unmarked Plastic Explosives §§ 58A - 58G In force (inserted 1994) VIII Criminal Damage to Property §§ 59 - 67 In force IX Forgery and Related Offences §§ 68 - 83 Partially in force X False Certification and Personation §§ 84 - 94 In force XI Counterfeiting and Kindred Offences §§ 95 - 116 Partially in force XII Sexual and Related Offences §§ 117 - 159 Partially in force XIIAA Voyeurism, Unlawful Recording or Observation of Intimate Parts, Related Image Publication Offences and Disposal Order §§ 159AA - 159AAO In force (inserted 2021) XIIA Preliminary Offences §§ 159A - 159L In force (inserted 1996) XIII Miscellaneous Offences §§ 160 and 161 In force (inserted 1979 and 1993 respectively)
The Crimes Ordinance also contains two schedules:
+ Schedules to the Crimes Ordinance Schedule Former or current schedule title Summary of provisions Current status 1 Other Offences of which Accused May Be Convicted Sets out alternative offences for an accused person charged with an offence. In force. 2 Sexual Offence Provisions That Have Extra-Territorial Effect Sets out sexual offences for which extraterritorial criminal jurisdiction applies. In force.
See also Legal system of Macau Law of Hong Kong
Penal/criminal codes from other parts of China:
Penal Code of Macau
Penal/criminal codes from similar Common law jurisdictions: Crimes Act Criminal Code (Canada) English Criminal Code
External links
Crimes Ordinance