IMMEDIATE
CYPHER/CAT A
GRPS 340
VM HONG KONG 101190Z
SECRET
COPY NO
6.3
SECRET
TO IMMEDIATE FCO TELNO 515 OF 10 MAY, 1973.
YOUR TELEGRAM 446: DEATH SENTENCES,
IT HAS BEEN HELPFUL TO DISCUSS WITH STUART.
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2. IT IS CLEAR FROM YOUR PARA 2 THAT YOU DO NOT CONSIDER AN EXECUTION IN HONG KONG TO BE A POLITICALLY VIABLE PROPOSITION IN THE U.K. AT THIS TIME. IT FOLLOWS THAT TSO MUST BE REPRIEVED. I CANNOT DO THIS AND STILL RETAIN CREDIBILITY HERE. THEREFORE MMG MUST DO IT, AND THE ONLY QUESTIONS RELATE TO TIMING
AND JUSTIFICATION.
3. TIMING: THE CONDEMNED MAN CANNOT BE LEFT IN SUSPENSE MUCH LONGER. IF THE DEBATE ON MONDAY ENDS WITH A VOTE IN FAVOUR OF ABOLITION IN NORTHERN IRELAND I SUGGEST THE IMMEDIATELY AFTERWARDS WOULD BE THE RIGHT TIME TO ANNOUNCE THE REPRIEVE. IN THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES
IT WOULD AT LEAST BE UNDERSTOOD HERE. BUT I DO HOPE THAT ARRANGEMENTS CAN BE MADE TO ENSURE THAT INSTRUCTIONS ISSUE TO ME THAT NIGHT, YOU MIGHT AGREE THAT THIS HAS DRAGGED ON DANGEROUSLY AND SOMEWHAT
INHUMANELY LONG ALREADY.
4. JUSTIFICATION: I APPRECIATE THE ATTRACTIONS, PARTICULARLY AT THE UK END, OF ANNOUNCING THAT TS01 WAS REPRIEVED PENDING TESTING OF PUBLIC OPINION IN HONG KONG AND OTHER COLONIES. BUT WE COULD NOT HAVE REACHED A VIEW ON THE FEASIBILITY OF SUCH A TEST IN HONG KONG OR AGREED IT WITH YOU IN A TIME SUFFICIENTLY SHORT TO BE COMPATIBLE WITH HUMANE TREATMENT OF TS01. AND IT WOULD BE DANGEROUS TO COMMIT OURSELVES TO ANYTHING OF THE SORT UNTIL WE HAD THOUGHT IT RIGHT THROUGH. THEREFORE SUGGEST NO REASON WHATEVER SHOULD BE GIVEN. COMING IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE DEBATE THE REASON WILL BE QUITE CLEAR IN ANY CASE, AND I UNDERSTAND THERE IS NO LEGAL REQUIREMENT FOR ANY REASON TO BE GIVEN PUBLICLY. PRESUMABLY PUBLIC JUSTIFICATION WOULD HAVE BEEN NECESSARY IN CASE OF REJECTION, BUT THE REQUIREMENT WOULD BE MUCH LESS IN CASE OF A REPRIEVE. I SUGGEST THAT IN ANY CASE THE LESSER EVIL WOULD BE TO SAY NOTHING.
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15.
IF WE SUBSEQUENTLY