The United Committee for the Abolition of the Death...

The United Committee for the Abolition of the Death Penalty, a Hong Kong-based group, launched a signature campaign along with religious and human rights organisations in Italy, Australia, France, the US and Taiwan. "No one can take the life of another person. You can't use the law to kill people," said group member Father Franco Mella, marking International Day for the Abolition of the Death Penalty in China. He said the group was particularly concerned that more Hong Kong residents were being sentenced to death on the mainland. At least 70 had been given death sentences or suspended death sentences between 1998 and 2001. The committee stated that among the 3,048 prisoners executed in 31 countries in 2001, 80 per cent had been executed on mainland China. The figure is believed to be much higher.