TNAG-0486-FCO40-551-Review-of-death-sentence-in-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 61

Condemned Prisoner:

ANNEX

CHAN Hon-tong

E

TO XC√(74) ►

For Executive Counsil

Report by Secretariat for Home Affairs

Enquiries have been made by the City District Office staff in both Western and Eastern, where the nearest relatives of the prisoner and the victim live.

2.

Tsoi Kwok-cheong.

Feelings on the general question of capital punishment were particularly strong at this time as it coincided with the start of the Fight Violent Crime Campaign and the commutation of the death sentence on

Kaifong leaders and other residents in the Eastern District who were contacted all felt that any convicted murderer should be hanged as the most effective deterrent to the ultimate crime. However, no particular views were expressed on this individual case.

3.

A member of the staff of the Western City District Office who interviewed the prisoner's wife made the following observations. Madam Li Oi-kwan, while expressing a certain amount of doubt over the conviction of her husband whom she described as a faint-hearted person who would not even take the life of an insect, was seen to be in a state of unusual serenity and little disturbed by the Full Court's dismissal of her husband's appeal. The officer had the impression that the death sentence, if carried out at all, would not come as a serious blow to the woman who seemed to be both emotionally detached and financially independent. The prisoner and his wife are Cantonese and appear to have had very little contact with these neighbours, who mostly speak the Chiu Chow dialect. The only information that could be obtained from the neighbours was that the Chan family had hardly any visitors since they moved in about three years ago,

4.

Discussions with village elders in Stanley where the nearest relatives of the victim live revealed that there was no special local interest in this case. There were no strong feelings among local residents about the carrying out of the death sentence in this particular instance, although it was the general comment of the villagers contacted that all convicted murderers should be hanged.

5.

Mr. Wong Kan-fuk, father of the victim, is a U.S.D. labourer living in a wooden hut of about 20' x 12' at No. 821-D, Mary New Village, Stanley, with his wife and 5 children, 4 of whom are studying at the Government subsidized Stanley Village Primary School. Dspite the death of his daughter, Wong Yuk-lin, who used to contribute $400 out of her montly income. of $600 towards family expenses, he and his wife are able to earn a total of $1,000 a month to maintain the family at a reasonable standard of living.

6.

The victim, as described by her father and confirmed by others where he worked, was quiet and good-natured, and was generally liked by her employers for being a willing worker. It was her habit to return home after work and stay at home most of the time. Only occasionally did she go to see a film with her younger brothers.

7.

According to Mr. Wong, the condemned prisoner was unknown to his family and he cannot think of any reason for the killing of his daughter.

1st June 1973.

(Walter W.T. Yeung)

for Deputy Secretary for Home Affairs