Capital punishment in Hong Kong

Capital punishment in Hong Kong has been formally abolished in 1993.

Before that, capital punishment was the regular sentence since the establishment of the Crown Colony of Hong Kong for offences such as murder, kidnapping leading to death, and piracy. [cite web
url = http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/200603/02/P200603020089.htm
title = Victoria Prison Decommissioning Open Day
publisher = The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China] However, it had been suspended since the last execution on November 16, 1966. [cite web
url = http://www.correctionalservices.gov.hk/english/abt/abt_his/abt_his_1950.html
title = A Chronology of CSD's Development and Penal Measures of Hong Kong
publisher = Hong Kong Correctional Services] Since then, the Governor had automatically commuted the sentences of those so convicted under the death penalty to life imprisonment under the Royal Prerogative of mercy. [cite web
url = http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/pub/ascii/wfbcjhon.txt
title = WORLD FACTBOOK OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEMS - HONG KONG by Ian Dobinson
publisher = Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Department of Justice] In April 1993, capital punishment was officially abolished in Hong Kong. [cite web
url = http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/200603/02/P200603020089.htm
title = Victoria Prison Decommissioning Open Day
publisher = The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China] Since then, life imprisonment becomes the most severe punishment in Hong Kong.

It is worth noting that, under the principle of independence of legal system in Hong Kong Basic Law, Hong Kong continues its repudiation of capital punishment after its handover to People's Republic of China [cite web
url = http://www.info.gov.hk/basic_law/fulltext/index.htm
title = Basic Law in Full Text
publisher = The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China] despite the fact that capital punishment is practised in China.

ee also

* Human rights in Hong Kong

References