TNAG-0397-FCO40-443-Problem-of-increase-in-crime-in-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 96

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Ming Pao (14.5.73) "We disagree with the view of the barristers. The public want harsh sentences for offenders, but this does not mean that the magistrates have the right to pass sentences indiscriminately on innocent people. The basic aim of the Campaign is to maintain law and not to distort it or oppress the law-abiding citizens."

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Fai Po (13.5.73) "The ridiculous theories of the minority of hypocrites

form an opposing force to the campaign and we must act against them."

(14.5.73) "We do not doubt the good intentions of the barristers, but what they are worried about are purely hypothetical situations, while what the people are suffering from is a real situation. real situations more important than hypothetical ones?"

Aren't

Sing Tao Jih Pao (14.5.73) "We support the new bills because we believe

they do not violate the spirit of the British law."

Kung Sheung Yat Po (14.5.73) "Harsh punishment is a 'must' in curbing

crime. To pity the behaviour of criminals is not being merciful to them but is indirectly encouraging crime."

Sing Tao Man Po (14.5.73) "It was sensible and necessary for the Government to amend certain legislation in order to put teeth into the Fight Violent Crime Campaign. We have good reasons to believe that the new bills will pain the support of all people."

New Evening Post (communist) (14.5.73) "The Bar Association was worried

that the new bills may do injustice to some offenders. However, much injustice has already been done by lenient sentences not to the offenders but to their poor victims! Why hadn't the Association said anything about this before?"

On

New Life Evening Post (14.5.73) "People of the legal profession commented

on the new bills from a standpoint quite different from that of the general public. We hope that their criticisms will not give people the wrong impression that Government's policy is being defeated. the contrary, we should hold the traditional concept that "what is reasonable is always widely supported." We feel that to worry about injustice to offenders is absolutely unnecessary."

Hong Kong Times (15.5.73) "People in the legal profession view the new

bills from an angle different from that of the general public. The reason for this difference is simple: The man-in-the-street is living under the constant threat of being robbed and assaulted but the law experts are not. So, will those who fail to understand the value of these new bills to the average citizen please shut up?"

Sing Tao Jih Pao (18.6.73) The effectiveness of the Fight Crime Campaig

depends much on the law. In the past, the authority of the court was much restricted and the people in general thought that punishment for criminals was much too light.

The Hong Kong Government finally complied to the people's wishes and drafted some anti-crime bills. We all hope that these bills will pass their third reading in Legislative Council and be enforced immediately.

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