GRS 500
EN CLAIR
FM HONG KONG 290400Z
UNCLASSIFIED
TR
NICK 10
16 on
10/9
Pars(3)
G34
TO ROUTINE F C O TELNO 707 OF 29 JUNE. 1974.
FOLLOWING FOR CROWSON (HKIOD).
GOVERNOR GAVE SHORT PRESS CONFERENCE YESTERDAY. HEREWITH TEXT
OF ANSWERS HE GAVE TO QUESTIONS ON DEATH PENALTY AND DEFENCE REVIEW.
DEATH PENALTY
Q: DID YOU HAVE ANY INDICATION FROM THE LABOUR GOVERNMENT THAT ·
THERE WOULD BE A CHANGE OF ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE DEATH PENALTY?
A NO, I DID NOT. STRESSED TO MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT AND TO
THE SECRETARY OF STATE HIMSELF AND TO OFFICIALS HOW STRONGLY PEOPLE IN HONG KONG FEEL ABOUT THE USE OF THE DEATH PENALTY, BUT I DID NOT DETECT ANY DIFFERENCE IN VIEW. THIS IS A VERY
DIFFICULT POLITICAL MATTER FOR ANY GOVERNMENT IN THE UNITED
KINGDOM AT PRESENT.
Q: DO YOU THINK THIS ATTITUDE IS INFLUENCED BY THE FACT THAT THE LABOUR PARTY HAS A VERY SMALI. MAJORITY IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS AND DO YOU THINK THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF A CHANGE OF ATTITUDE IF THERE WERE A PARTY IN POWER WITH A LARGER MAJORITY?
A TIME COULD CHANGE THIS CERTAINLY BUT THE CLIMATE OF OPINION IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS AT THE MOMENT IS VERY STRONGLY AGAINST THE USE OF THE DEATH PENALTY AND THIS APPLIES TO BOTH PARTIES.
DEFENCE REVIEW:
Q: DID YOU HOLD ANY DISCUSSIONS ON THE FUTURE STRENGTH OF THE
HONG KONG GARRISON?
/A:
THERE IS