TNAG-0487-FCO40-552-Review-of-death-sentence-in-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 67

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Translation of Wah Kiu Yat Po

Editorial dated 12/6/74

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Strict Enforcement of

Capital Punishment

Recently, strict enforcement of the captital punishment has been urged by various sectors of the community on the Governor of Hong Kong. His Excellency has been back to United Kingdom to discuss the question with the Authority, it is said. The truth of the statement is to be verified by his return to liong Kong.

Ever since 1967 criminals sentenced to death very often escape the eventuality of capital punishment by petitioning

This much encourages Her Majesty or the Governor in Council. the potential criminals to commit homicides and robberies etc. The state of affair is such that industry and commerc

dversely affected and so is the general prosperity of Hong Kong.

are

In England, the capital punishment has been given up for reasons valid only to the English community. Hong Kong, though a Crown Colony of Great Britain, has been growing under a totally different circumstance. It is therefore impracticable to follow every bit of the English law, for instance, the capital punishment.

We hope that the Governor can discuss the question of capital punishment with the Authority so that a solid

We also decision to enforce the penalty will be reached. hope that the Governor in Council will not substitute death penalty with imprisonment for life. Only by strict enforcement of the death penalty will the potential criminals be restrained.