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appointed Commission of Inquiry Mr Royle said that this would
depend on reaction to the steps which the Governor was already
taking, such as an announcement of the appointment of
Mr Prendergast.
Amendment of the Fugitive Offenders Act, if
decided upon, would also be important.
11.
Sir M MacLehose said that he saw the order of events on the
Blair-Kerr report as follows:-
(a) a decision by ExCo on action to be taken;
(b)
(c)
publication of the report and the announcement of
intentions;
the setting up of the new Anti-Corruption Office.
Mr Royle said he could consult the Whips, the Attorney General
and the Opposition quite quickly. Sir M MacLehose thought that
perhaps any reference in the Blair-Kerr Report to possible
amendment of the Fugitive Offenders Act should be excised before
publication in order not to alert Mr Godber.
DEATH PENALTY
12. Mr Royle said that, if another case came up where the
Governor could not, in the circumstances of Hong Kong, grant a
reprieve, but Ministers for UK reasons could not allow the law to
take its course, he agreed that the law would have to be changed.
The Secretary of State had accepted this. It was therefore
necessary to tie up contingency plans for procedure. If it was
necessary to abolish the death penalty in Hong Kong by Order in
Council, we would inform the Governor within 5 weeks of receipt
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