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. [1] However, it had been suspended since the last execution on November 16, 1966. [2] 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. [3] In April 1993, capital punishment was officially abolished in Hong Kong. [4] 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 [5] despite the fact that capital punishment is practised in China.
See also
References
- ^ "Victoria Prison Decommissioning Open Day". The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China.
- ^ "A Chronology of CSD's Development and Penal Measures of Hong Kong". Hong Kong Correctional Services.
- ^ "WORLD FACTBOOK OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEMS - HONG KONG by Ian Dobinson". Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Department of Justice.
- ^ "Victoria Prison Decommissioning Open Day". The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China.
- ^ "Basic Law in Full Text". The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China.
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