Analysis of Sports Participation and Crime in Hong Kong

探討參與運動與罪案的關係

Abstract

The main objective of this study was to investigate the relationship of aggregate sports participation and the overall crime in Hong Kong. Data of sports participation and the number of crimes from the year 2001 to 2015 were used in this study. Poisson regression models in level and in one-lagged period by maximum likelihood were used to explore the relationship between sports participation and crime in Hong Kong. The findings proved that higher sports participation of citizens would lower the overall crime in the city. This linkage also existed for young persons. The results of this study brought practical implications on the future planning of sports policy. The Hong Kong government played an important role in providing sports and recreation opportunities for the citizens. Recently, there was rising discontent towards the political power in the city, especially from the younger generation. It was hopeful that sports activities could be a medium to relief the grievance of young people and build up a stronger social cohesion. School sports might be a ready-made panacea for the current situation. Therefore, it suggested that more school sports opportunities should be provided to the younger generation.