(16941) Dd.897300 250m 9/72 G.W.B.Ltd. Gp.863
NOTHING TO DE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
likely to oppose abolition.
(d) Support for the death sentence is very strong
in the Fish Virgin Islands;es there were administrations against the Governor last month for commuting a death sentence against the
advice of local Ministers.
(e)
(£)
Members of the Executive Council in Hong Kong
oppose a trial period of abolition in 1970 and
attitudes have hardened in recent years.
A motion in the Seychelles Assembly last month. called for the use of the death penalty for
bomb explosions resulting in death of one of
more people.
Possible courses of action to abolish or cuspend the
death sentence throughout the territories
can be divided between Legislative and Administra
measures
(a) Legislative action.
(i)
to initiate the introduction of local legisl ́an
in each dependent territory.
(ii) to pass an Act of Parliament at Vesminator
applying to the dependent territories.
(iii) to change local law by an Order in Council mod
in respect of cach territory.
(b) Administrative action.
(i) to advise The Queen to mend the Letters
or Orders in Council delegating to the Govegrens
the
the exercise of prerogative of mercy and the
:
formal instructions repriever',
(ii) to intimate to the Governors by despatch that
they should grant reprieves in all cases,
CONFIDENTIAL.
/(iii)