see
ANNEY
ど
GPS 300
CYPHER/CAT A
FM HONG KONG 030850Z
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAT
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} Ne.81
SOCT 1973
NCK 14./16
TO ROUTINE FCO TELNO 1125 OF 3 OCTOBER. 1973
(200)
(201
203
AJOD JOL
YOUR TELEGRAMS 974 AND 9751 DEATH SENTENCES.
LAST
REF
REF.
(201) 204)
I AM GLAD THAT CONTINGENCY WORK IS PROGRESSING, AND I WILL LET
YOU HAVE MY COMMENTS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
2. MEANWHILE, YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT THE APPEAL OF LAM PO, A DOUBLE
MURDERER, HAS JUST BEEN DISMISSED BY THE FULL COURT.
3. THIS MAN WAS CONVICTED OF A PARTICULARLY UNPLEASANT MURDER LAST YEAR, A REVENGE ARSON WHICH RESULTED IN THE DEATHS OF 13 PEOPLE, HIS SENTENCE WAS COMMUTED BY THE ACTING GOVERNOR ON A
TECHINCALITY AFTER A 13 - 1 VOTE IN EXECUTIVE COUNCIL IN FAVOUR
OF THE LAW TAKING ITS COURSE. SEE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MINUTES FOR
22 AUGUST 1972. THE MAN SUBSEQUENTLY MURDERED A FELLOW PRISONER
IN STANLEY PRISON IN THE PRESENCE OF MANY WITNESSES.
4. OBVIOUSLY THIS WILL BE VERY DIFFICULT CASE, AND THE RELEVANT TRANSCIPTS ARE BEING SENT TO THE F.C.0. BY BAG SCHEDULE 70/UNCLASS OF 5 OCTOBER. DURING THIS SECOND TRIAL FOR MURDER THE ACCUSED RESOLUTELY REFUSED TO ACCEPT LEGAL AID AND ADOPTED A TOTALLY FATALISTIC ATTITUDE. LEGAL AID OFFICERS MORE OR LESS FORCED HIM TO APPEAL, BUT BEFORE THE FULL COURT HE TOOK THE LINE THAT HIS
TRIAL HAD BEEN FAIR AND THE SENTENCE JUST. THE UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCES
OF THE CASE LED THE CHIEF JUSTICE TO SEND ME A REPORT, A COPY OF WHICH IS ATTACHED TO THE TRIAL TRANSCIPT.
5. ON THE GROUNDS THAT IT IS ABNORMAL TO ASK TO BE BE HANGED, I HAVE ARRANGED FOR HIM TO BE SENT FOR CAREFUL PSYCHIATRIC EXAMINATION, BUT I FEAR THAT THIS TENDENCY TO MURDER PEOPLE AND
TO ACCEPT THE OUTCOME FOR HIMSELF WITH FATALISM MAY NOT BE FOUND
TO RESULT FROM ANY PSYCHIATRIC CONDITION THAT COULD BE HELD TO BE
MITIGATING CIRCUMSTANCES.
CONFIDENTIAL
/ 6. I WILL
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