CHINA
MAILO
16 MAY 1973
Hanging: Queen starts row
By
RODNEY TASKER
and.
MICHAEL CHUGANI
BAD OMEN
THERE is growing anger among Hongkong's Chinese community today over the Queen's decision to commute the death sentence on condemned murderer Tsoi Kwok- cheong.
The general feeling was that Britain has this time gone too far by over- ruling the Governor Sir Murray MacLehose's decision to use hanging as the ultimate deterrent.
And in top Government circles too there was unhappiness and embarrassment that the Queen, on the recommendation of Foreign Secretary Sir Alec Douglas-Home, should show Tsoi mercy.
In Britain a move in Parliament to bring hanging has been defeated and yesterday the House of Commons Voted to abolish the death penalty in Northern Ireland.
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The decision, however, has been greeted by Hongkong's lawyers, w have kept up a constant barrage of protests since the Governor-in- Council refused in March to grant Tsei a reprieve.
If the 29-year old killer had been hanged. He would have been the first to go to the gallows in Hongkong in nearly seven years.
Hongkong community leaders and others spoken to by the MAIL today reflected the majority view here hanging should be brought back permanently as a punishment, to help curb the soaring number of violent crimes.
"It's a pity. that's all I can say." Senic- Unofficial Legco member Mr P.C. Woo said.
Tsoi should definitely hang. He killed. He robbed and used violence. "But even if Tsoi does not hang 1 c.n't think it is the British Government's intention to have capital punished abolished in HK -- that is quite definite." Mr Woo said.
"The decision on Tsoi came at a time when Parliament voted on hanging in Britain and Ireland. It's unfortunate.
"I hope the people here don't lose confidence in the law."
Urban Councillor Dr Denny Huang said: "it's a bad omen for the start of the anu-crime campaign.
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"We are different from Britain they have abolished capital punishment we have not. So why shouldn't Tsci be hanged?
"It shows that the people who advised the Queen on the decision are cut of touch with Hongkong.
"Many people will now lose confidence in the law.
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BEST INTEREST
Mr Wong Shiu-cheuck. Urban Councilior and organiser of a Million Signature Campaign to maintain hanging in Hongkong, said he was not against the Queen's decision as an individual.
"The campaign to ask the Queen not to abolish hanging in Hongkong. "I am sure that as long as Her Majesty is made fully aware of the views of the great majority of the people in Hongkong, she will act with the very best interest of Hongkong at heart."
Mr W
Wong said he was not interested in hanging any particular prisoner, he just did not want capital punishment dropped from the laws.
Ulster Bill
in Commons
are LONDON:
"Chinese people believe in an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. "If they don't have any more confidence in the law how can they co- operate with the police?"
The Commons yesterday gave a formal first reading to lcgislation creating a new 78-member assembly for Northern Ireland to replace the former provincial parliament suspended in March, 1972.
Elections for the new assembly will be held on June 28 under the proportional representation
system.
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A number of lawyers contacted by the MAIL expressed relief at the Queen's decision, which came yesterday a month after Tsoi petitioned her for mercy.
One of them, Mr lan MacCallum, who is local secretary of the world movement Justice, said:
"We are very happy
- we felt the decision to hang Tsoi was a very bad one indeed.
He revealed that the Council of Justice in London had, after being contacted by the movement's Hongkong branch, made representations on behalf of Tsoi to Sir Alec Douglas-Home.
The council, Mr MacCallum said comprised a number of VIPs, including a former Attorney General and Lord Chancellor.