He was sentenced to “death with twenty years’ suspension of execution and solitary forced labor with observation of the results.” “What exactly does that mean?” Patchen asked the Chinese intelligence officer who brought him the news. They faced each other across a table laden with food in the dining room of the Peninsula Hotel in Hong Kong. Neither Patchen nor the Chinese had much appetite, but both had wanted to meet in a public place. “It means that he is under sentence of death but that the sentence will not be carried out for twenty years.” “That’s a very cruel sentence.” “No, it is most clement,” said the Chinese. “Many of the criminals who receive this humanitarian punishment are saved.” “How does that happen?” “Through the observation of results. If the prisoner reforms, or if there are special circumstances, he may not after all be executed.”
