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Except his responsibility and errand to the aged parents and sometimes the little nephews, Prisoner's life in Hong Kong remained exceptionally independent and to a certain extent lonely all these years. He was so far unmarried and lived singly. He first started to be a labourer in a government quarry in Hunghom for 6 years before quitting of his own accord due to poor pay. From 1953 onwards, he started to set up his own watch repairing stall in Sai Kung (for about 6 months) and then in Yuen Long Town area, New Territories until 1971. Priscner was then asked by a neighbouring shop owner to move away for obstruction. He immediately set up the same stall in front of the Wing Lung Bank at 339, Ngau Tau Kok Road, Kwun Tong and rented rooms to live in the vicinity. He moved to live at 44, Tung Ming Street, 1/F., Kwun Tong for about 3 years before he committed the offence in question on 15.11.1979 leading to the present penalty. Before his arrest, Prisoner crossed the harbour to Hong Kong side and again attempted to set up a new watch repairing stall in Causeway Bay.
According to information gathered throughout the social enquiries process, no family members, his former neighbours or acquaintances had knowledge about what he had committed until they read the trial and sentencing in the newspapers. His aged parents, especially, were kept in the dark during and after the trial. This was claimed to be the wish of Prisoner to keep them away from the truth for fear of unbearable grief blow. While Prisoner's siblings either ignored or strongly resisted to be interviewed or visited. persistently, the general social behaviour of Prisoner was learned
be through bits and tats from those in Yuen Long and Kwun Tong who might in contact with him in daily activities. General impression gave that Prisoner was fairly regular and punctual in running his stall business. He seemed to be a hard-working introvert who spoke sparingly especially about himself. He was, nevertheless, friendly and at peace to the surrounding people especially with little children running about his stall and policemen on patrol. However, there had been once that Prisoner was suddenly being chased after and beaten up by a Chiu Chow couple who was owner of a metal ware shop next to his stall simply because the day before, Prisoner shouted to their children not to toy with a water gun and wet up his stall. No police report was made. Prisoner was also reported to have no bad habits as gambling or excess drinking. He took meals outside and usually returned to his living place early in the evening. However, after 2 young men moved into his next room a few months before the offence, he had frequent conflict and fighting with the next room youngsters which led to medical report once, and a few police reportings by Prisoner in Ngau Tau Kok Police Station. He was seen having bad swollen eyes once in the stall. Both the principal tenant living apart and the bank guard had suggested Prisoner to be more tolerable and give up further antagonism with the mass of tenants in the house but the advice was ignroed. Prisoner declared strong dislike of being bullied by anyone who was unreasonable and doing injustice to him. He would hold himself strong even if it meant to be fighting a lonely battle. Before he committed the present offence, he had a clear criminal record.
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