CONFIDENTIAL
believe we must also accept the possibility of
occasional hangings in Hong Kong. A particularly
double murder
bad case is expected to come up within six
months.
b)
We could decide to postpone a decision
until the next serious case arises and in the
meantime avoid a confrontation with Hong Kong.
But this course could be dangerous if we decide,
now or later, that there must be no more
executions in Hong Kong. To change the law in
the immediate context of a particularly bad
though case might be very damaging, but this is 2
course that the Governor favours.
c) We could decide now that the death
penalty must be abolished. In that event we
should be prepared to do this here - by Order
in Council within the next few months.
Parliament would probably welcome this.
Fat however,
If we
showever,)
allow the other Dependent Territories with
elected legislatures to choose for themselves,
but abolish the death penalty in Hong Kong,
this would draw attention to Hong Kong's
in a way that would be resented in Hong Kong. constitutional position The Hong Kong
Chinese read the recent reprieve as implying
that Hong Kong's direct concerns will always
has to be
be disregarded if a balance is struck between
them and the interests of HMG and the British
Parliament.
We have hitherto avoided a
- 4 - CONFIDENTIAL
/confrontation
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