TNAG-1213-FCO40-1516-Crimes-and-sentences-in-Hong-Kong--including-death-sentences-1982 — Page 127

ANNEX D

For Executive Council

Condemned

Report by the City and New Territories Administration

The family members of the victim were visited but they were reluctant to discuss the case. However, a younger brother who had spoken to our staff seemed convinced that the death sentence would be commuted; he was critical that capital punishment has only existed nominally and has rarely been enforced in recent years despite the increasing number of murders. The immediate neighbours did not know the victim nor the background of the case well enough and hence did not make any comments.

2.

Relatives of the condemned prisoner, however felt very strongly that

could not have committed a cold-blooded murder and that the death sentence passed was unfair. Four of Poon's neighbours (including one old woman who had known the family for 20 years and two middle-aged housewives who live on the same floor with the family) considered a well-behaved young man who has been very helpful to his neighbours; they hoped therefore that the death sentence would be suspended.

3.

Some community leaders in Kowloon City and Wong Tai Sin had also been consulted but they had little comment since they had no knowledge of the case. On death sentence in general, they, with the exception of the officer-in-charge of the Hung En Church in Tokwawan considered that capital punishment should be enforced as it would have some deterrent effect on the reckless criminals.

23rd June 1980