TNAG-1754-FCO40-2474-Future-of-Hong-Kong-Parliamentary-debates-1988 — Page 107

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R. TREATMENT OF PRISONERS AFTER 1997

1. Capital Punishment

I can reassure the House that death sentences passed in Hong Kong prior to 1997, but commuted to life imprisonment by the Governor of Hong Kong, will not be carried out after 1997.

In Hong

Kong the commutation of a death sentence is irrevocable. Under the Joint Declaration, laws currently in force in Hong Kong will remain basically unchanged, save for any that contravene the Basic Law.

There is no intention before 1997 to vary laws of Hong Kong to

conform to the criminal law of PRC by introducing death penalty for

"economic crimes" such as bribery, theft, speculation and

embezzlement. After 1997 these matters will fall within the high degree of autonomy to be enjoyed by Hong Kong Special Administrative Region under the Joint Declaration.

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