Part of this book is based on my D.Phil. thesis, which was submitted to
the Department of Sociology, University of Oxford in 2014. I am grateful
for the guidance and support from my doctorate advisor Professor
Federico Varese, who never fails to offer unfailing support on my research.
I am also thankful for Professor Lo Tit Wing for offering me advice, guidance,
and support since my days as a doctorate student, and to my colleagues
on the Criminology and Sociology team at the City University of
Hong Kong. I am indebted for the never-failing support from my mentors
Professor Eric Chui and Professor Ray Yep. In particular, this book
would not have been possible but for the support shown by Professor
Rob White, and Miss Helen Steadman and Miss Amy McLean for their
professional top-notch editing and proofreading services. I would also
like to thank Miss Annie Wong On Ling and Miss Yu Hanting for their
unfailing technical support. My former research assistant Miss Lee Chee
Yan has gone beyond the call of duty to assist me with this book. The
Netherlands Institute for the Study of Crime and Law Enforcement and
the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences has offered me generous
support during my term as a Visiting Professor in the Netherlands,
where I finished my final revisions for the manuscript.