i
CONFIDENTIAL
200
GRS 150 PRIORITY
CYPHER/CAT A
RECAVED I
RR. RYNo.51
FM F C O 021123Z
འང།
OCT 1973
CHITORY
REF
CONFIDENTIAL
(178)
HICK 14/16
(183)
RLF.
182) (201)
TO PRIORITY GOVERNOR HONG KONG TELEGRAM NUMBER 974 OF 2 OCTOBER, 1973,
YOUR TELEGRAMS NUMBERS 965 AND 997: DEATH SENTENCES.
1. WE DISCUSSED AND AGREED THE SUGGESTED PROCEDURE WITH YOU DURING
OUR TALKS IN LONDON. RECORD FOLLOWS BY BAG.
2*
ON THE QUESTION OF POSSIBLE FURTHER CONSULTATIONS WITH YOU
AFTER YOU HAD GIVEN ME PRELIMINARY WARNING OF YOUR LIKELY DECISION, I AGREE THAT WE SHOULD NOT GET INTO A RUNNING ARGUMENT. BUT IF I DECIDE ON SUPPORT, I MUST BE ABLE TO ASSURE MY COLLEAGUES
THAT I PERSONALLY AM CERTAIN YOUR DECISION IS THE RIGHT ONE IN ALL
CIRCUMSTANCES. THE POSSIBILITY OF CONSULTATION MUST THEREFORE
EXIST.
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3. MIFT CONTAINS THE TEXT OF A DRAFT ORDER IN COUNCIL WHICH I
COULD PUT TO THE PRIVY COUNCIL IF I DECIDED ON ABOLITION. THIS
DOES NOT IMPLY THAT I WILL DO SO, BUT IF WE ARE TO BE ABLE TO KEEP TO YOUR SUGGESTED TIMETABLE, THERE WOULD BE ADVANTAGE IN HAVING
AN AGREED TEXT READY. GRATEFUL FOR THE COMMENTS OF YOUR LAW
OFFICERS.
DOUGLAS HOME
FILES
HRIOD
GIB AND CENL DEPT
LEGAL ADVISERS
PRIVATE SECRETARY
PS / PUS PS/MR ROYLE
CONFIDENTIAL