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GR 500
FM FCO 081645Z
CONFIDENTIAL
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(HW)
HKKI 4/40
TO ROUTINE GOVERNOR HONG KONG TEL NO 567 OF 8 JUNE 1973.
YOUR TELEGRAM NO 597.
1. KAN CAME TO SEE ME AND MR ROYLE ON 6 JUNE.
2. HE SAID THAT THE DECISION BY THE QUEEN ON HY ADVICE, IN THE TS01
CASE HAD CIVEL RISE TO CONSIDERABLE CONCERN, BOTH IN EXECUTIVE
COUNCIL AID AMONG THE PUBLIC IR HONG KONG. THE MILLION SIGNATURE
CAMPAIGN IN FAVOUR OF THE DEATH PENALTY WAS UNDER WAY, KAN'S OWN
WORRIES WERE NOT SO MUCH ABOUT THE TSOI CASE AS ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS
NEXT. ABOUT SIX CASES WERE PENDING, NOTABLY THE ALLEGED DOUBLE
MURDER. THE FIGHT VIOLENT CRIME CAMPAIGN HAD BEEN AFFECTED BY THE TSOI DECISION. IF THE DEATH PENALTY WAS ABOLISHED OR IF
AUTOMATIC REPRIEVES CONTINUED THE FEELING WOULD GET AROUND THAT
CRIMINALS COULD GET AWAY WITH IT. POLICE RECRUITEMENT COULD BE
AFFECTED. THE HONG KONG POLICE WERE STILL UNDER STRENGTH ALTHOUGH
THE RECRUITEMENT OF AUXILIARLY POLICE HAD IMPROVED. THERE WAS NO
DOUBT ABOUT THE VIEW OF THE CHINESE POPULATION. ABOLITION WOULD
CAUSE A HIGHLY SERIOUS SITUATION. IN HIS VIEW IT WOULD BE DANGEROUS
TO HAVE A REFERENDEUM, PARTICULARLY IF WE WISHED TO ABOLISH THE
DEATH PENALTY.
3. I EXPLAINED THAT THE TSOI CASE CAME AT A PARTICULARLY DIFFICULT
TIME. IT COINCIDED WITH THE DEBATE ON NORTHERN IRELAND AND ON THE
GENERAL QUESTION OF THE DEATH PENALTY. THE HOUSE HAD BEEN IN A
HIGHLY EMOTIONAL STATE. I HAD NOT MADE UP MY MIND ON THE GENERAL
QUESTION. WE NOW NEEDED A BIT OF TIME TO CONSIDER CAREFULLY WHAT
THE ATTITUDE OF PARLIAMENT WOULD BE. I MUST NOW CONSULT VERY
CAREFULLY WITH MY COLLEAGUES. WHAT WOULD BE MOST DAMAGING-TO HONG
KOK'S LITERESTS WOULD BE A CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS IN PARLIAMENT ON
THE QUESTION OF HONG KONG. WE MUST PLAY THE WHOLE QUESTION VERY
COOL AND TAKE ALL THE TIME THAT WE LEEDED. THE QUESTION OF THE
DEATH PENALTY WAS UNIQUE. THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO DESIRE TO CLIP
HONG KONG'S WINGS OR TO INTERFERE IN THE GENERAL CONDUCT OF HER
AFFAIRS.
14.
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