CONFIDENTIAL
anothe
interme is
incritable.
Kumki
ditto
Neiltres (b) or (c)
всер
(b) Asking for a free vote of the Unofficial Members •of
ExCo and LegCo in Hong Kong, perhaps backed up by
some opinion sampling in Hong Kong by their own
organisation (UMELCO), as being the nearest thing
to an expression of representative opinion available
in Hong Kong. But Parliament might not be impressed
by this.
(c) Conducting some sort of referendum in Hong Kong. But
the implications of this politically in this country
and for the Government of Hong Kong could be dangerous.
If we decide to abolish the death penalty, the appropriate
6.
in acceptable way would be by Order in Council made under the prerogative to Pariaman powers of the Crown to legislate for Hong Kong.
вый им
oficir.
This would
not be subject to any legislative procedures. The alternatives
would be an Act of Farliament in this country, which would
bring the whole question into undesirable political prominence;
or a Hong Kong law forced through by the official majority.
This would make it difficult for the Governor to govern
effectively and he might well refuse to do it.
Hong Kong & Indian Ocean Department
10 July 1973
CONFIDENTIAL