(17865) Dd.145178 400m 5/73 G.W.B.Ltd. Gp.863
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6.
The Governor has been able to persuade his Executive Council to acquiesce in reprieves in all
subsequent cases. But this has rested on no more than
his own statement to them of his belief that HING
would not countenance another execution. If he is
to hold them to this line he needs a clear statement:
from us that his judgment is correct. Even this may not be enough to persuade Executive Council, and I
fear that sooner or later we shall be faced with a conflict on the point between Hong Kong and the UK.
7.
We can meet this when we come to it. But
meanwhile, as well as giving the Governor the assurance about our attitude that he has asked for, I believe we should explore with him the possibility of tightening up penal sanctions other then the death penalty, to help him cope with the very real problem of rising crime, particularly violent crine, and public confidence in ilong Kong.
8.
Other subjects which the
Governor may wish
to raise with you are Hong Kong and the CIC, and the current Defence Review. Your statement on 4 June has
been very well received in Hong Kong and I am sure that we should keep up the pressure for improvements to the Community's arrangements for Hong Kong, particularly the Generalised Preference Scheme.
9. The Defence Review will be a tricky one.
The
Ministry of Defence's starting point is that all troops.
should be removed from the non-NATO area. But the
internal security of Hong Kong must be maintained, and I believe it can only be done by a garrison on the
spot. This must be sufficient for the needs of internal security. The last time it was required for this role, in 1967, a force almost as big as the present garrison of 6 rds battalions had to be deployed. The Governor's view, with which I agree, is that the military will have to make a professional judgment of the size of garrison that is needed. Thereafter we can discuss with the Hong Kong Government the possibility of their meeting a greater
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