CYPHER/CAT A
GR 500
IN CO 816457
CONFIDENTIAL ·
CONFIDENTIAL
HK KI
TO ROUTINE GOVERNOR HONG KONG TEL LO 567 OF 8 JUNA,
YOUR TELEGRAM NO 597.
(HU) T
1973.
1. KAN CAME TO SEE ME AND MR ROYLE ON 6 JUNE.
2. HE SAID THAT THE DECISION BY THE QUEEN ON HY ADVICE, IN THE TS01 CASE AD GIVEI. RISE TO CONSIDERABLE CONCERN, BOTH IN EXECUTIVE COUNCIL ALD AMONG THE PUBLIC H HONG KONG. THE MILLION SIGNATURE CAMPAIGN IN FAVOUR OF THE DEATH PENALTY WAS UNDER WAY. (ALL'S CWI
VORRIES WERE HOT SO MUCH ACCUT THE SOT CASE AS A OUT WHAT LAPPEES NEXT. ABOUT SIX CASES WERE PENDING, NOTABLY THE ALLEGTO NOCLE HURDER. THE FIGHT VIOLENT CRIME CAMPAIGN HAD BEEN AFFECTED MY
THE TSOI DECISION. IF THE DEATH PENALTY WAS ABOLISHED OR IF
AUTOMATIC REPRIEVES CONTINUED THE FEELING WOULD GET AROUND THAT
CRIMINALS COULD GET AWAY WITH IT. POLICE RECRUITEMENT COULD SEL
AFFECTED. THE HONG KONG POLICE WERE STILL UNDER STREITH ALTHOUGH
THE RECRUITEMENT OF AUXILIARLY POLICE HAD IMPROVED, THERE WAS BO
DOUBT ABOUT THE VIEW OF THE CHINESE POPULATION, ABOLITION WOULD
CAUSE A HIGHLY SERIOUS SITUATION, IN HIS VIEW IT WOULD BE DANGEROUS
TO HAVE A REFERENDEUM, PARTICULARLY IF WE WISHED TO ABOLISH THE
QEATII PENALTY.
3. EXPLAINED THAT THE TS01 CASE CAME AT A PARTICULARLY DIFFICULT TIME. IT COMICIDED WITH THE DEBATE ON NORTHERN IRELAND AND ON THE GENERAL QUESTION OF THE DEATH PENALTY. THE HOUSE HAD BEEN IN A HIGHLY EMOTIONAL STATE. I HAD NOT MADE UP MY MIND ON THE GENERAL QUESTION. WE NOW NEEDED A BIT OF TIME TO CONSIDER CAREFULLY WHAT THE ATTITULE OF PARLIAMENT WOULD BE. I MUST NOW CONSULT VERY CAREFULLY WITH MY COLLEAGUES. WHAT WOULD BE MOST DAMAGING TO HONG K'S FIRESTS WOULD BE A CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS IN PARLIAMENT ON
THE QUESTION OF HONG KONG. WE MUST PLAY THE VIOLE QUESTION VERY COOL AND TAKE ALL THE TIME THAT WE LEEDED. THE QUESTION OF THE DEATH PERALTY WAS UNIQUE. THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO DESIRE TO CLIP
HONG KONG'S WINGS OR TO INTERFERE IN THE GENERAL CONDUCT OF HER
AFFAIRS.
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