ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the involvement strategies taken by experts, and proposes one main strategy taken by experts as ‘civic activism’. It discusses the comparative analysis of several cases based on detailed discussion of the behavioural strategies taken by experts during the process of changing the detention and repatriation (D&R) system and the relevant mechanisms for success. The D&R activities were mainly subscribed under the administration of public security and the civil administration departments. The legislative intent of measures on D&R issued in 1982 was to help vagrants, mendicants and those with unguaranteed livelihood. Unfortunately, this system eventually degenerated and changed into a D&R system that did not provide any help but compelled those subjects to participate in labour. The major turning point for the overhaul of the D&R system occurred after Sun Zhigang Incident in 2003. The substantial influence of the civic activism strategy taken by experts to promote policy changes can be determined by comparing several related cases.
