ANNEXЄTO XCR(74) (63
For Executive Council
Condemned Prisoner: LAI For-pui
Report by Home Affairs Department
Enquiries have been made by the staff of City District Offices in both Sham Shui Po and Kwun Tong where the nearest relatives of the prisoner and the victim live.
2.
According to his mother, Mrs. LAI SUM Kwai-fong, and his sister, Miss LAI Mei-fong, the prisoner behaved well at home. He is the only son in the family to which he made regular financial contributions. However, he was not the chief breadwinner as his sister and father shoulder major part of the family burden. At present, the family income depends mainly on his sister who is working in a wig factory. Since the prisoner got into trouble, the family has raised a sum of $12,000 from their neighbours and friends for meeting litigation expenses and this enormous loan is now an extra financial burden to the family. The neighbours contacted were sympathetic to the prisoner. They did not believe that the prisoner could be a murderer as he appeared to be a responsible and friendly person.
3.
The victim's wife, Madam LUI Wai-yee, said that their marriage was not registered; nor did they undergo any ceremony. She was reluctant to talk more about her relationship with the victim. Her only comment on him was that he was quite a nice person and did not go out very often. According to her mother and her brother, Madam Lui left the family about eighteen months ago after she abandoned schooling and said to have found a job. They knew very little about her activities after she left home. She might have cohabited with the victim but has no children. She came home once or twice but never asked for money.
4.
There is little public interest in this case. However, the consensus remains that the death sentence should be executed as a deterrent to crimes of violence in the present day of declining law and order.
15th July 1974
Олим
(Y.T. Lin)
for Director of Home Affairs