TNAG-0113-FCO40-149-Detainees-and-prisoners-following-19671968-disturbances-1969 — Page 25

Mrs. Elliott,

Stanley Prisun,

Hong Kong

26th. May, 1969.

261/€

a group of hopeless, helpless "white-handed prisoners" (first offenders), because of unfairness in the reduction of sentences, bravely complain to Urban Counciller Mrs. Elliott. Please bring our complaint to the attention of:

Mr, Brock Pernacchi, Q.C. Chairman, Reform Club

་

The Official and Unofficial Henbers of the Legislative and Executive Councils The Bar Association

Social Organisations

The local Press (newspaper names mentioned)

M enbers of the general public.

Now we

We are rejected, despised and forgotten by society. even ashamed to speak cur hearts before you to ask for your sympathetic help, for justice, and for fair treatment.

are

Recently it was reported in the newspaper that the Board of Review had reviewed the sentences of some of the "whitehanded prisoners" and that they had recommended to the Govern r a reduction of sentences. We are grateful that they take such notice of us; however, we find that they are particularly partial towards left-wing prisoners. Not a ward was mentioned acut us ordinary prisoners. In fact most of the left-wing prisoners had their sentences reduced, while not one of the ordinary prisoners was so favoured. We find this absolutely astonishing. The action of the law should by its cwn nature be fair and just, because the law is the same law, so how can it be applied to different people in different ways? In the matter of relucing snétences, the Government shoul treat everyone equally, an there should be no discrimination.

We are first offenders. We are alrea'y awake to our nisdéods an we are repentant. We are urging ourselves to do better in the future. We hoped to find some mercy an have the chance to become new men. But we cannot understand why the same Government, the same community, judging the sale crimes under the same law, can give cut ifferent treatment. This makes us sigh with sorrow at the realisation of the unfairness of our treatment.

Of course, perhaps we do not understand the law, but according to the facts, luring the 1967 riots the security of the community was und.ulte 'ly listurbed. What we did was comparatively less serious. Moreover, those cases were all sentenced in the ordinary courts, so their position is the same as rurs. The Governor especially enphasise that there are no political pris ners in the Hong Kong prisons. But now the Government has reduced their sentences, and the same treatment should be given to us. This would show to the public that the Government is fair. If the cancelling of an emergency regulation means that a sentence can be reduced, it seems to us that this would be showing partiality. We have never heard that because a law is cancelled, the punishment of offenders is thereby cancelled. us it seens as if the sacred law is rnly a plaything. It is, moreover, to treat sene well and others badly.

We have already served long sentences, an during that time we have behaved ourselves well and not broken the regulations. The Board of Review has been in operation for 10 years and they are responsible to check the long-tern scntenres and make suggestions. During this time we have selden heard‹f any action to reduce the prison terms; we can think of only fur such occasions, Yet now, suddenly, the prison terns of most left-wing prisoners have been reluced. Unless it can be officially denied that this has a connection with the case of Mr. Anthony Grey, we can only c nsider it t、 be bargaining”.

Now the Board has reduced the sentences of about 120 left-wing pris:ners, but it has ignored us crdinary prisoners. What is the purpose of this Board? We cannot unlerstand why they cannot treat us fairly. This news is a rare

Therefore we ask you to consider our weak an! pitiful cry fr sympathy and a helping and for all first offenders; we ask the Government to be fair and reduce cur sentences, give us a new life, let us be new men. We shall be grateful. We anxiously await y:ur

thing in the world.

news.

5.)

Signed individually by over 80 prisoners.