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of it. But in recent years, on the pretext that there are no means to eliminate illegal off-course betting and other sorts of gambling dens, the Government backed the Jockey Club up in the wide establishment of off-course betting stations all over Hong Kong. In addition to this, another gambling game, Mark 6 or known as "modern pigeon ticket" has been newly introduced. This policy might have enabled the Government and the Jockey Club to channel part of the money which should have found its way into the hands of operators of illegal gambling dens back to them. However, the effect of any form of gambling to the community at large is all the same. What I feel is most disgusting is that the Hong Kong Housing Authority should have allowed this kind of "modern gambling den" to be established one after another in housing estates.
(ii) The unrealistic laws only encourage the growth of crimes; consequently they lose their esteem
(a) Death penalty exists but only in name; that makes the thugs fear nothing
On several occasions, I have taken part in discussions on death penalty and could therefore listen to the high-sounding opinions of those in opposition to the death penalty. But in the present circumstances in Hong Kong, my convictions on tight rules and harsh punishments have never, for an instant, been shaken. Those who are opposed to capital punishment may hold a humanitarian point of view which appears to be philanthropic. They say, "The dead cannot be restored to life. Why don't we give the living a fresh chance?" Some may hold a sociologist point of view, saying, "Even with death penalty, robbery and killing may not be eliminated.”
I don't intend to reiterate my opinion here, and only wish to point out a fact disclosed in one of the Governor's speeches last year, that is, the seven years from 1967 to 1974, the crime rate in Hong Kong has increased seven times and these are just the seven years following the suspension of enforcement of capital punishment in 1966. Can we say that this is merely a coincidence?
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Since the effect of the suspension of the death sentence is so obvious now, why can't we, who support the enforcement of capital punishment, be given a chance to see whether our assertion is right or not in fairness to us? In fact, I wonder whether those who oppose capital punishment will talk so eloquently on humanism and effects when their close relatives are being robbed and killed. What deterrent will have a greater effect on vicious criminals than "those who kill must be killed"?
Some sociologists say that life imprisonment is more fearful than capital punishment. I think that it is not true. If a thug, before taking a knife to kill, knows that he has to pay with his own life for the life he is going to take, he may change his mind. Regarding life imprisonment, he will think that he will live on after all and there may still be a chance to be set free. Moreover, when the Government announced not long ago that when a death penalty is commuted in future, the alternative punishment of life imprisonment will be imposed, it added that, in exceptional circumstances, an even lesser sentence may be imposed. Such measure greatly reduces the deterrent effect of life imprisonment. At the beginning of this month, the press reported that a person, after receiving $10,000 from someone, had pleaded guilty to a murder charge for another person. He did so because he believed that the law of Hong Kong was so lenient and the judge was so soft-hearted that at the most he would get a jail sentence of one or two years. Had there been actual capital punishment in Hong Kong, this young man would not have risked his life for $10,000, and the above case of obstruction to the course of justice of law, would not have happened.
(b) The judges are allowed too much flexibility in deciding the penalty, and the reason for their verdicts are often inconceivable
Take for example, rape is always and universally regarded as a serious crime, because the victim suffers psychologically all her life. Besides she may encounter difficulties in the course of establishing human relation. But in Hong Kong, the punishments for a large number of such cases are light. Very often the judge is so kind-hearted that he merely binds teddy boys over on good behaviour.
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of it. But in recent years, on the pretext that there are no means to eliminate illegal off-course betting and other sorts of gambling dens, the Government backed the Jockey Club up in the wide establishment of off-course betting stations all over Hong Kong. In addition to this, another gambling game, Mark 6 or known as "modern pigeon ticket" has been newly introduced. This policy might have enabled the Government and the Jockey Club to channel part of the money which should have found its way into the hands of operators of illegal gambling dens back to them. However, the effect of any form of gambling to the community at large is all the same. What I feel is most disguesting is that the Hong Kong Housing Authority should have allowed this kind of "modern gambling den" to be established one after another in housing estates.
(ii) The unrealistic laws only encourage the growth of crimes;
consequently they lose their esteem
(a) Death penalty exists but only in name; that makes the
thugs fear of nothing
On several occasions, I have taken part in discussions on death penalty and could therefore listen to the high- sounding opinions of those in opposition to the death penalty. But in the present circumstances in Hong Kong, my convictions on tight rules and harsh punishments have never, for an instant, been shaken. Those who are opposed to capital punishment may hold a humanitarian point of view which appears to be philanthropic. They say, "The dead cannot be restored to life. Why don't we give the living on a fresh chance?" Some may hold a sociologist point of view, saying, "Even with death penalty, robbery and killing may not be eliminated.”
I don't intend to reiterate my opinion here, and only wish to point out a fact disclosed in one of the Governor's speeches last year, that is, the seven years from 1967 to 1974, the crime rate in Hong Kong has increased seven times and these are just the seven years following the suspension of enforcement of capital punish- ment in 1966. Can we say that this is merely a coin- cidence?
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
183
Since the effect of the suspension of the death sentence is so obvious now, why can't we, who support the enforcement of capital punishment, be given a chance to see whether our assertion is right or not in fairness to us? In fact, I wonder whether those who oppose capital punishment will talk so eloquently on humanism and effects when their close relatives are being robbed and killed. What deterrent will have a greater effect on vicious criminals than "those who kill must be killed"?
Some sociologists say that life imprisonment is more fearful than capital punishment. I think that it is not true. If a thug, before taking a knife to kill, knows that he has to pay with his own life for the life he is going to take, he may change his mind. Regarding life imprisonment, he will think that he will live on after all and there may still be a chance to be set free. Moreover, when the Government announced not long ago that when a death penalty is commuted in future, the alternative punishment of life imprisonment will be imposed, it added that, in exceptional circumstances, an even lesser sentence may be imposed. Such measure greatly reduces the deterrent effect of life imprisonment. At the beginning of this month, the press reported that a person, after receiving $10,000 from someone, had pleaded guilty to a murder charge for another person. He did so because he believed that the law of Hong Kong was so lenient and the judge was so soft-hearted that at the most he would get a jail sentence of one or two years. Had there been actual capital punishment in Hong Kong, this young man would not have risked his life for $10,000, and the above case of obstruction to the course of the justice of law, would not have happened.
(b) The judges are allowed too much flexibility in deciding the penalty, and the reason for their verdicts are often inconceivable
Take for example, rape is always and universally regarded as a serious crime, because the victim suffers psychologically all her life. Besides she may encounter difficulties in the course of establishing human relation. But in Hong Kong, the punishments for a large number of such cases are light. Very often the judge is so kind- hearted that he merely binds teddy boys over on good
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