Ed. (3746)
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
2
Registry No.
SECURITY CLASSIFICATION
Top Secret? Seeret.
Confidential. Restricted. Unclassified.
PRIVACY MARKING
DRAFT LETTER
To:-
M.D.I. Gass Esq., C.M.G., Government House, Hong Kong.
Type 1+ 2
From
Sir Arthur Galsworthy
Telephone No. & Ext.
Department
In Confidence
I think it better to write to you about providing
by emergency regulation for the death penalty for unlawful
possession of explosives, bombs etc., (your telegram
No.1310). We share your concern about the terrorist
activities of certain Communist elements. The use of
bombs and similar devices is a particularly vile and
indiscriminate form of terrorism and we, for our part,
can see that sterner penalties should be provided.
2.
As you already know this is a matter which we feel
must be submitted to Ministers. Any extended application
of the death penalty will undoubtedly lead to public
criticism here and would on general grounds raise
difficulties for Ministers. There is, moreover, at this
present time the risk of Chinese retaliation against our
people in China. In these circumstances, Ministers will
clearly expect us to furnish in detail arguments for this
/measure