HONG KONG STANDARD..
JUNE
13t
73
me serve
Pe2 years
Sir Murray'
saves killer
from the noose
THE Governor, Sir Murray MacLehose, yesterday saved a murderer from the gallows, commuting his death
imprisonment.
Chan Kam-wah, a 27-year-old security guard, was sentenced to hang by Supremie Court Justice Simon Li on April 7, 1972 after a jury found him guilty of murdering Lam Al-kau outside a Causeway Bay restaurant three years ago.
The Governor's decision to repeal Lam's death sentence was. taken after considering the advice of the Executive Council.
One of the major factors gulding the Governor's decision, it was revealed yesterday, was that Chan's accomplice in the crime, Chiu Sing, was caught shortly after it was committed.
Chiu
tried and scntenced to eight years for mandlaughter - not murder.
Was
When Chan came out of hiding in Indonesia a year later and surrendered to the British
.
-by Petar Kwok, Juna Tong
Embassy, he was flown back to the Colony where he was tried. for murder and sentenced to hang.
Yesterday, in the victim's home in Aberdeen, the murdered man's 28-year-old brother, Mr Lam Chi-ming, talked of protection for the citizens of Hongkong.
"No matter how a brother died, it would be uscles to talk about it. What we should be concerned with is protection for the living, especially in the face of the Fight Violent Crime Campaign.
no
'Citizens have been asked to help but they have security. If they are killed their murderers at most will get 10 years in prison. So who would risk his neck," he asked.
Recently, Sir Murray tumed down an appeal from another
sentence to 12 years
killer, Toi Kwok-cheung, to commute his death sentence but clemency was granted by the Queen.
The Governor's decision yesterday which came six days before the launching of the Fight Violent Crime Campaign with mixed community
was
received
feelings leaders.
from
Urban Councülor Peter C.K. Chan sud he felt Sir Murray and the Executive Councillors must have "carefully investigated" the circumstances of the murder.
Mr Ma Man-fai, a strong of opponent
capital punishment, said the Governor had little choice because of the Queen's decision last month.
with "I sympathise
the Governor because he is in an His impossible situation. decision, which I fully support, is the only
he could make," said Mr Ma.
one
However kaifong leaders said the move will have adverse effects on the Fight Violent Crime Campaign.
J
Mr Yan Chikit, chairman of the Hongkong and Kowloon Joint Kaifong Research Council, mid support for the campa'n will definitely wane because of the move.
"The citizens will lose heart in the Goverment's thinking if those who do not observe the law don't have to die while
can law-abiding people
be küled at any moment.
"The citizens may get the idea that if Chinese were running the Government, this would not happen," he said.
The murder for which Chan was convicted took place on December 1, 1970 outside the in Great Peking Restaurant George Street in Causeway Bay and Was the result of argument between two dance hostesses.
an
On November 30, 1970 a hostess, Lamn Yucingor, who was dancing in the restaurant. bumped into Some outer hostesses,
The following day she was asked to apologise to the other hostess by Chan refused.
but
she
When she left the restaurant with the victim, Lam Ah-kau, they met a group of men, including Chan, and some other gids.
The men attacked Lam with knives, stabbing him 18 tunes and piercing his spinal cord and liver.
After the killing, Chan hid in the New Territories' for nearly a year before escaping to Indonesia where he surrendered to the British Consul on December 26,
1921
1
C
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