Sing Pao
18.7.81
The Express 18.7.81
Tin Fung Yat Po 18.7.81
Wah Kiu Yat Po 19.7.81
Kung Sheung Daily News 21.7.81
The Hong Kong Daily News 18.7.81
4
PART II
Extracts from Editorials
'BRING BACK THE LOOP'
At a time when murderers have become blood-thirsty, leniency towards them would only increase the number of homicide cases.
Innocent people can lose their lives easily to the outlaws whereas the cold- blooded murdurers are protected by the law from the death penalty. What sort of argument is this?
At a time when the law and order situation is deteriorating and when criminals are becoming increasingly violent, the reinstatment of capital punishment will definitely have a deterrent effect on criminals who take others' lives easily.
Furthermore, it would be unfair to the victims and their families if murderers are treated leniently.
We hope the Hong Kong and the British Governments would give serious consideration to the issue (of reintroducing capital punishment) in the light of the real situation here.
Many innocent people have, on the face of it, died in the hands of murderers but, in effect, they are victims of the lenient policy towards killers.
Recently, there have been reports from Britain that the UK will not intervene if Hong Kong execute the death sentence.
It's time Hong Kong should bring back the hangman's noose.
Now that such violent crimes as homicide, kidnapping and robbery cannot be curbed, every step must be taken to prevent the situation from deteriorating. The public outcry for the reinstatement of capital punishment should be given consideration. It would be adopting the humanitarian principles if (the Government) reintroduces the death penalty to save the many lives that might be lost every year.
It is against the principles of the laws which are made to punish and eradicate criminals, to maintain society's stability and to protect people's property if every convicted murderer has his death sentence commuted by the Governor on behalf of the Queen. It has also wasted the judiciary's time and efforts and fanned the atrocity of criminals.
-CONGERN OVER MIR ROW
With regard to the industrial action (launched by MTR staff), both MTRC's application for a court injunction and resolutions made by the MTR Operating Department Workers' Union (ODWU) are instances of extremist moves which will do neither parties nor the public any good.
In view of such abnormal circumstances and the hot-headed attitude (of the parties involved), it is necessary for the Labour Department to step in and settle the labour dispute.