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THE STAR
16 MAY 1972......
HOT WISE!
1
Community men criticise Queen's decision
EXECUTIVE Councillor Dr S.Y.Chung today described the Queen's decision not to hang convicted killer Tsoi Kwok- choung as 'not a very wise ono.'
And Urban Councillor Charles Sin claimed the Queen had made a mistake.
Their comments came as a wave of criticism from Chinese community leaders greeted the news of Tsoi's reprieve.
The Queen decided yesterday to commute Tsoi's death sentence and replace it with a life term in prison.
Dr Chung - one of the men who recommended to the Governor that Tsoi hang said public opinion in Hongkong should be respected.
Mr Sin said he was surprised by the Queen's decision.
"With the greatest respect I think she is wrong," he said.
DR Denny Huang.
Community leaders criticised the decision because, they said, it did not take into consideration the "The Executive Councillors and the Governor traditional rule that government in Hongkong rested know the local feeling on capital punishment. They on the consent of the majority of the people and on live and work here and deliberated carefully before the active cooperation of the Chinese elite. making their recommendations.
"In my opinion the decision should not have been reversed,
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Kaifong leader Yan Chi-kit said the Queen had Governor Sir Murray Macl chose in a difficult position.
"He is supposed to govern according to the peoples' wishes," he said. "How can he do that when British officials change his decisions?"
Mr Yan suggested British officials should spend more time in Hongkong to find oup for themselves what the people think.
Urban Councillor Dr Denny Huang said the decision was "a serious blow" to the anti-crime campaign.
"And it will definitely affect the confidence of the local people," he said.
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"The worse thing we can 5 now is show mercy to people who save done wrong.”
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