• Part I. Introduction and Conceptual Framework: 1. The problems of legal reform of police administrative detention powers; 2. The legal field and the process of legal reform since 1978; Part II. Social Order and Administrative Detention: 3. Historical antecedents: the 1950s and administrative detention; 4. Social order, the 'hard strike' and administrative detention powers; 5. Revival of administrative detention in the reform era: prostitutes and drug addicts; 6. Re-education through labour; Part III. Legal Reform and its Impact on Administrative Detention: 7. Building a legal environment for police detention; 8. Supervision of police conduct: legalisation and contest; 9. Legal reform catches up with administrative detention; Part IV. Analysis and Conclusion: 10. The field of law, the force of law and the powers that be.

'… this 484-page masterpiece leaves the reader in awe. It was not only time but also firm resolution that were required in massive doses to obtain the documentary sources on which this book is based. Besides almost no other work on detention in China has reached the same level of scholarly and intellectual rigour. This book has made an enduring contribution to our knowledge of one of the most important, yet least known sectors of Chinese law. This is essential reading for scholars of Chinese law, contemporary China, NGO personnel, teachers and sociologists of law.' China Information

• Part I. Introduction and Conceptual Framework: 1. The problems of legal reform of police administrative detention powers; 2. The legal field and the process of legal reform since 1978; Part II. Social Order and Administrative Detention: 3. Historical antecedents: the 1950s and administrative detention; 4. Social order, the 'hard strike' and administrative detention powers; 5. Revival of administrative detention in the reform era: prostitutes and drug addicts; 6. Re-education through labour; Part III. Legal Reform and its Impact on Administrative Detention: 7. Building a legal environment for police detention; 8. Supervision of police conduct: legalisation and contest; 9. Legal reform catches up with administrative detention; Part IV. Analysis and Conclusion: 10. The field of law, the force of law and the powers that be.

'… this 484-page masterpiece leaves the reader in awe. It was not only time but also firm resolution that were required in massive doses to obtain the documentary sources on which this book is based. Besides almost no other work on detention in China has reached the same level of scholarly and intellectual rigour. This book has made an enduring contribution to our knowledge of one of the most important, yet least known sectors of Chinese law. This is essential reading for scholars of Chinese law, contemporary China, NGO personnel, teachers and sociologists of law.' China Information

• Part I. Introduction and Conceptual Framework: 1. The problems of legal reform of police administrative detention powers; 2. The legal field and the process of legal reform since 1978; Part II. Social Order and Administrative Detention: 3. Historical antecedents: the 1950s and administrative detention; 4. Social order, the 'hard strike' and administrative detention powers; 5. Revival of administrative detention in the reform era: prostitutes and drug addicts; 6. Re-education through labour; Part III. Legal Reform and its Impact on Administrative Detention: 7. Building a legal environment for police detention; 8. Supervision of police conduct: legalisation and contest; 9. Legal reform catches up with administrative detention; Part IV. Analysis and Conclusion: 10. The field of law, the force of law and the powers that be.

'… this 484-page masterpiece leaves the reader in awe. It was not only time but also firm resolution that were required in massive doses to obtain the documentary sources on which this book is based. Besides almost no other work on detention in China has reached the same level of scholarly and intellectual rigour. This book has made an enduring contribution to our knowledge of one of the most important, yet least known sectors of Chinese law. This is essential reading for scholars of Chinese law, contemporary China, NGO personnel, teachers and sociologists of law.' China Information