Hongkong, May 5.
Chan Ping-sang, ex-president of the Seamen's Union, who was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment at Canton for the murder of his wife, has been pardoned and liberated by Dr. Sun Yat-sen.
A crowd of labourers, who had gathered outside the prison gate, cheered the Labour leader upon his emerging from the gaol.
_Commenting on Chan's liberal: tion, the "Hongkong Daily Press" states, in the course of an editorial article: Most people will read with amazement the news that Dr. Sun Yat-sen has granted a free pardon to Chan Ping-sang. The murder was a_ particularly cold-blooded one The release of the murderer from the punishment imposed by the Court reflects no credit either on the Executive or the people who rejoice in this act of incredible leniency, unequalled since Barabbas escaped crueiixion.""
The "South China Morning Post" states: "Nothing will justify such a scandalous precedent in the eyes of thinking and genuinely patriotic Chinese, who will see in it not only a handle for China's external enemies, but' a highly dangerous expedient, likely to threaten the authority of all civil law."'—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.