(17260) Dd.897459 400m 12/72 G.W.B.Ltd. Gp.863 (16940) Dd.897300 400m 9/72 G.W.B.Ltd. Gp.863
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
Registry
No.
SECURITY CLASSIFICATION
Top Secret.
Secret.
Confidential.
Restricted.
Unclassified.
PRIVACY MARKING
In Confidence
DRAFT LETTER
To:-
Ivor Richard Esq QC MP
Type 1 +
FROM
Secretary of State
Telephone No. Ext.
Department
Letter despatched by Private Soumerate's Dept
- ! 1973
TSOI KWOK-CHEONG
1. Thank you for your letter of 30 April about the
death sentence passed in Hong Kong on Mr Tsoi.
2. As you know, the death penalty still exists
under Hong Kong law Mr Tsoi was convicted of
murder in the course of a gang robbery and his appeal
was dismissed by the Full Court of Hong Kong. The
Royal Prerogative of Mercy is delegated to the
Governor under the constitution and, after taking
the advice of his Executive Council and considering
all the facts of this case, he decided that the law
must take its course.
3. You will appreciate that, unless there has been
miscarriage
an obvious miscarriage of justice, it is would be most unusual
for the authorities in this country to intervene in
a matter where the effective \exercise of legislative
and prerogative powers lies in Hong Kong.
Nevertheless
Mr Tsoi has now petitioned The Queen for the
exercise of Her Residual Prerogative of Mercy,
and
I shall be forwarding the petition to Her Majesty
after due consideration of the facts in the case,
including the open letter to which you refer.
Üld underhand that
4.
7
you
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