Restrictive deterrence in Hong Kong drug dealing: exploring a framework of certainty reduction – severity mitigation

Abstract Using a framework of certainty reduction – severity mitigation, the paper examines how drug dealers in Hong Kong adopted restrictive deterrence strategies to reduce certainty, and mitigate severity, punishment. It seven concrete techniques, including camouflage public places, picking safe time position, counter-reconnaissance, choosing less severe activity, stashing product, passing risk, cooperating with police. We found that techniques used by correspond well this framework, but high-level make more use mitigation while low-level more. Moreover, strategy is transferred through dual paths which trust plays role among triad background.