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IT WOULD HAVE TO BE SEEN TO BE A SERIOUS EXAMINATION IN AS MUCH DEPTH AS POSSIBLE, SOUNDING OUT AND TAKING INTO ACCOUNT TO THE EXTENT PRACTICABLE PUBLIC OPINION WITHIN THE COLONY ITSELF. YOU WILL READILY UNDERSTAND THE DIFFICULTY IN THAT YOUR COUNCILS ARE NOT ELECTED (AS IS THE CASE IN OTHER COLONIAL TERRITORIES WHERE THE DEATH PENALTY IS STILL IN EXISTENCE) AND THUS THE ANALOGY OF A FREE VOTE ON THE SUBJECT IN PARLIAMENT IS NOT REALLY VALID AND THE VIEWS OF YOUR COUNCILS WOULD NOT NECESSARILY BE THOUGHT HERE TO BE REPRESENTATIVE OF GENERAL OPINION IN THE COLONY,
4. I UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEMS AT YOUR END AND AM VERY ANXIOUS THAT WE SHOULD AVOID STIRRING UP DIFFICULTY FOR YOU IN HONG KONG OR PUTTING STRAIN ON THE PRESENT CONSTITUTIONAL RELATIONSHIP. PLEASE DISCUSS ALL THIS WITH ANDREW STUART AND I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU OR HIM FRANKLY WHAT YOU THINK. IF IT WERE AGREED TO EMBARK ON SUCH A POLICY REVIEW, THAT COULD BE A NEW FACTOR WHICH I SHOULD NEED TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT IN REACHING A FINAL DECISION ON THE PRESENT CASE.
DOUGLAS-HOME
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