CONFIDENTIAL
Secretary of State would respect the Governor's decision
rather than argue against it. Nevertheless the Secretary of
State will not wish to be precluded, for example, from making
sure that some particular consideration has been taken into
account.
SPEAKING NOTES
6.
Mr Royle will wish to:
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
Seek the Governor's agreement to the proposed
procedure.
Ask him to agree to consider any views from us
on a particular case between his first notifi-
cation to us and its consideration by Executive
Council.
Ask the Governor what he thinks the reaction is
likely to be in Executive or Legislative Councils
to a decision by HMG to abolish the death penalty
in Hong Kong. Would they be likely in those
circumstances to consider abolishing the death
penalty themselves?
At an earlier stage Hong Kong suggested that
retention of the death penalty might be considered
for certain specified crimes. The Governor should
be told that if HMG act they would wish abolition
to be total.
Hong Kong & Indian Ocean Department
7 September 1973
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CONFIDENTIAL