GRS 115
IMMEDIATE
CYPHER CAT/A
FM HONG KONG 250630Z
SECRET
SECRET
RECEIVED IN
REGISTRY No. 31
26 MAR 1974
HKK 1+/1
**23/548/10 ARCHING/10 TOR COPY
Colved to HKK14/1
LAST
REF.
NEXT
REF.
TO IMMEDIATE F C O TELEGRAM NUMBER 366 OF 25 MARCH. 1974.
ANSWERS TO P.Q.S ON THE DEATH PENALTY IN HONG KONG.
сору
IN GENERAL, I SUGGEST YOU SHOULD ATTEMPT TO STAND ON PARA K OF YOUR TEL 286, BUT OMITTING THE LAST SENTENCE WHICH ON REFLECTION COULD EMBARRASS ME AND MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
2. QUESTIONS TENDING TO FAVOUR OF ABOLISHING THE DEATH PENALTY: THE
SUBSTANTIVE ANSWER SHOULD BE 'NO''. AND FOR SUPPLEMENTARIES:- (A) NO REQUEST FOR ABOLITION HAS BEEN RECEIVED FROM THE
GOVERNOR.
(B) NO EXECUTION HAS BEEN CARRIED OUT SINCE 1966.
(C) THIS IS A HIGHLY EMOTIVE ISSUE IN HONG KONG.
3. IN ANSWER TO QUESTIONS FAVOURING SUPPORT FOR THE LAW TAKING ITS COURSE. IT WOULD BE MOST IMPROPER TO ANSWER A HYPOTHETICAL QUESTION ON THIS ISSUE.
MACLEHOSE
FILES
HKLOD
SIR D WATSON
MR WILFORD
MR YOUDE
MR RUSHFORD (LEGAL ADVISERS)
SECRET