CONFIDENTIAL
TALKING POINTS
DEATH PENALTY
1. The problem in the Tsoi case was a very special one
arising from the debate on the death sentence in Northern
Ireland. Abolitionist feeling was very strong in the House.
There was also an element of anti-racialism.
People argued
that to spare a European in Ireland and to hang a Chinese in
Hong Kong would be a sign of racial prejudice and colonialism.
2. An execution in Hong Kong would therefore have led to a
prolonged, publicised and bitter running battle, in which
Hong Kong would have been the subject of damaging political
controversy.
This would not have been in the interest of
either country.
3. We accept and regret that this made things difficult for
the members of Hong Kong's Executive Council. We know that
Sir Y K Kan felt this particularly keenly. But they have very wisely decided that the interests of Hong Kong do lie in avoiding a row in Parliament over Hong Kong. Sir Albert
Rodrigues said at the recent meeting of the Unofficial Members Organisation that the best policy is to keep cool. This seems
to us the statesmanlike course.
4.3 We wish to confirm clearly that what happened over the death penalty in the Tsoi case has no bearing on general issues concerning Hong Kong,[including the question of the Chinese Representative.
ve.] We have no intention of ignoring Hong Kong's
/fundamental
CONFIDENTIAL