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ABROAD AND FLEE TO HONG KONG?
ANSWER: WE HAVE REACHED AGREEMENT WITH THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT IN THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP THAT HONG KONG SHOULD HAVE ITS OWN SET OF SEPARATE EXTRADITION AGREEMENTS. THEY WILL BE CAPABLE OF CONTINUING IN FORCE AFTER 1997. THEY WOULD BE BASED ON THE CURRENT EXTRADITION ARRANGEMENTS FOR HONG KONG, IE UNDER THE COMMON LAW SYSTEM.
(VI) QUESTION: WHAT ABOUT EXTRADITION TO CHINA?
ANSWER: GRATEFUL IF HONG KONG COULD SUGGEST A REPLY. (VII) QUESTION: WHAT ABOUT PUBLIC OPINION IN HONG KONG? ANSWER: A MAJORITY OF PEOPLE IN HONG KONG FAVOURS RETAINING THE DEATH PENALTY EVEN BEYOND 1997. A RECENT OPINION POLL (PUBLISHED ON 13 NOVEMBER) SHOWED 71 PER CENT IN
FAVOUR OF RETAINING IT FOR CONVICTED MURDERERS. THE SAME LEVEL OF SUPPORT WAS EVIDENT FROM ALL SECTIONS OF THE COMMUNITY, REGARDLESS OF SEX, INCOME, EDUCATION OR AGE. THE LOWEST FIGURE WAS FOR THOSE AGED 18-24 (63 PER CENT IN FAVOUR). IN A SIMILAR POLL CONDUCTED IN DECEMBER 1986, A TOTAL OF 68 PER CENT FAVOURED RETAINING DEATH PENALTY, SO THERE APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN A SLIGHT INCREASE OF SUPPORT.
(VIII) QUESTION: HOW MANY CONVICTED MURDERERS ARE CURRENTLY
SERVING SENTENCES OF LIFE IMPRISONMENT IN HONG KONG?
ANSWER: 125. (PLEASE CONFIRM)
(IX) QUESTION: HOW LONG ARE THEIR TERMS OF IMPRISONMENT IN PRACTICE?
ANSWER: (GRATEFUL FOR THE ANSWERS.)
(X) QUESTION: ARE THEIR PRISON CONDITIONS DIFFERENT FROM THOSE OF OTHER PRISONERS?
ANSWER: (FROM HONG KONG PLEASE.)
(XI) QUESTION: WHAT ABOUT A POLL THAT WAS PUBLISHED IN AUGUST
SUGGESTING THAT A MAJORITY OF LEGCO MEMBERS ARE IN FAVOUR OF
ABOLISING THE DEATH PANALTY?
ANSWER: IT WAS ONLY A MAJORITY OF THOSE WHO RESPONDED. ONLY 17 OUT OF A TOTAL OF 58 SAID THAT THEY FAVOURED ABOLITION. (XII) QUESTION: THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR HONG KONG UNTIL 1997. IF WE ARE PREPARED TO ABOLISH THE DEATH PENALTY IN THE UK DESPITE PUBLIC OPINION SUPPORTING IT, WHY ARE WE NOT PREPARED TO DO THE SAME FOR HONG KONG?
ANSWER: WE CONSIDER THAT THIS IS A MATTER FOR THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT TO DECIDE.
(XIII) QUESTION: WILL THE DEATH PENALTY STILL EXIST WHEN THE
BILL OF RIGHTS IS ENACTED?
ANSWER: ARTICLE 2 OF THE DRAFT BILL OF RIGHTS DEALS WITH THE RIGHT TO LIFE. THE CONDITIONS IN THIS ARTICLE REFLECT
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