Hong Kong Ordinances

POLICE FORCE ORDINANCE - SECT 54

Power to stop, detain and search

(1) If a police officer finds any person in any street or other public place,
or on board any vessel, or in any conveyance, at any hour of the day or night,
who acts in a suspicious manner, it shall be lawful for the police officer-

   (a)  to stop the person for the purpose of demanding that he produce proof
        of his identity for inspection by the police officer;

   (b)  to detain the person for a reasonable period while the police  officer
        enquires whether or not the person is suspected of having committed
        any offence at any time; and

   (c)  if the police officer considers it necessary to do so-

        (i)    to search the person for anything that may present a danger to
               the police officer; and

        (ii)   to detain the person during such period as is reasonably
               required for the purpose of such a search.

(2) If a police officer finds any person in any street or other public place,
or on board any vessel, or in any conveyance, at any hour of the day or night,
whom he reasonably suspects of having committed or of being about to commit or
of intending to commit any offence, it shall be lawful for the police officer-

   (a)  to stop the person for the purpose of demanding that he produce proof
        of his identity for inspection by the police officer;

   (b)  to detain the person for a reasonable period while the police  officer
        enquires whether or not the person is suspected of having committed
        any offence at any time;

   (c)  to search the person for anything that is likely to be of value

(whether by itself or together with anything else) to the investigation of any
offence that the person has committed, or is reasonably suspected of having
committed or of being about to commit or of intending to commit; and

   (d)  to detain the person during such period as is reasonably required for
        the purpose of such a search.

(3) In this section, "proof of identity" (身分證明文件) has the same
meaning as in section 17B of the Immigration Ordinance ( Cap 115). (Replaced
57 of 1992 s. 5)

"proof of identity" (身分證明文件)