114741) Dd.897300 250m 9/72 G.W.8.Ltd. Gp.863
THING TC
: WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
vie execution Lii che piación Virgin islega ó
in 1972.
(d) Between 4 and 7 executions per annum between
1956 and 1962 in Hong Kong; then 2 executions
in 1966 and none since.
(e)
4 executions in Montserrat
>
(E)
The last execution in the Turks and Caicos
Islands probably took place about 5 years ago.
(g)
There have been no recent executions in Bermud:!,
Cayman Islands, New Hebrides and Seychelles.
Likely attitude in the dependent territories to the
suggestion of abolition
The Goverments of dependent territories were
invited to consider the question of capital punislao mt
in 1965 at the time of the beginning of the trial
period of abolition in Britain and in 1970 at the time
of abolition. The response showed a strong current
of opinion in favour of retaining the death penalty
in the Caribbean dependencies and in Hong Kong and
the Seychelles. It seems unlikely that this action
has changed in the last 3 years, although it sour!
territories public opinion may have been influenced
by a progressive abolition of the death penalty her.
In more detail the position is as follows:
(a)
(b)
(c)
In the Bahamas, Ministers would not welcome
abolition before the country's independence
this July.
Members of the Dermuda cabinet would probably
oppose abolition, particularly in present
circumstances.
Members of the legislature în British Honduras
and in the Cayman Islands and members of the
Legislative Council in Montserrat would be
/likely
CONFIDENTIAL