Death Penalty in Hong Kong

Do you know that death penalty in Hong Kong was not abolished until 1993?

In the early years, executions were mainly carried out in form of decapitation (like that of the Qing government), and usually took place in the opening in Kowloon Walled City. At that time, the executions were open to public. They were later carried out inside the prisons for humanitarian reasons (seriously, who except psychopaths would enjoy seeing people‘s head chopped off?).

Later, hanging, instead of decapitation, was practiced. Death penalty was usually reserved for serious crimes like kidnapping and murder. The hangings would usually be carried out in early morning, when other prisoners were still asleep. The death rows would be standing on a platform, with the noose around their neck. The executor would then pull the lever, opening the drop below the death rows, and then…you know the rest.

The executors would receive bonus every time they pull the trigger (haha…oh I shouldn’t be laughing). The prisons got to keep all the belongings the death rows had, including their bodies. Therefore not even the death rows’ families were allowed to retrieve them.

The last execution was carried out in 1966. After that, all capital punishments were changed to life imprisonments under Hong Kong governors’ prerogative of mercy.

However in 1973, the Tsoi Kwok Cheung case heated up the debate of whether he should be executed. Lots of Hongkongers, and even the Governor at that time (Sir Murray MacLehose) agreed that Tsoi should be executed. But after Tsoi’s petition, Queen Elizabeth decided to grant Tsoi a pardon. The decision led to Hongkongers’ disappointment and widespread criticism, with politicians and officials condemning the British Government for “going against the public” and “having political motives”.

After years of debate, death penalty was officially abolished in 1993, under the Offences Against the Person Ordinance. Life imprisonment has become the most severe punishment in Hong Kong since then.