TNAG-1855-FCO40-2630-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-memoranda-and-minutes-of-me-1989 — Page 68

HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL —15 March 1989

香港立法局——————————一九八九年三月十五日

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CHIEF SECRETARY: Sir, the constitutional position is as I have described and I would see no point in reviewing that situation now, Sir.

MR. MARTIN LEE: Sir, since there is no prospect of the death penalty being ever carried out, why do we not consider scrapping it altogether?

CHIEF SECRETARY: Sir, the Government is aware, through the feedback from an extensive community liaison network and through reflections in the media, of the wish of the majority of our local community to retain the death sentence as a penalty for murder and Mr. NGAI has added weight to that view this afternoon. I would add, Sir, that on every occasion that a death sentence is reviewed, soundings are taken in the district where the convicted person lives. In the vast majority of these cases, public opinion is in favour of the death sentence. In view of the public opinion on this issue, Sir, we do not believe it would be opportune to abolish the death penalty.

MR. PETER WONG: Sir, the Chief Secretary has only mentioned the crime of murder. What about treason?

CHIEF SECRETARY: Sir, treason under the present law is also subject to the death penalty.

MR. MARTIN LEE: Sir, will Government inform this Council whether the government Members of this Council would be given a free vote if there is a private Member's Bill proposing to abolish the death penalty?

CHIEF SECRETARY: That is a hypothetical question, Sir, which I would prefer

not to answer.

Staff shortage in the police force and the Fire Services

4. MRS. LAU asked: In the reply to a question at the Legislative Council sitting on 15 February 1989, the Secretary for Security stated that the current wastage and recruitment situation of police did not compare unfavourably with other disciplined services and the Civil Service as a whole. However, subsequently there have been further reports in a televised public affairs programme produced by Radio Television Hong Kong expressing concern about the high wastage rates and staff shortage in the police force and the Fire Services Department. Will Government therefore inform this Council what action will be taken to allay the public concern over the issue?