CONFIDENTIAL
31
32)
CPS 200A
FRIORITY
CYPHER/CAT A
FM FCO 201915z
CONFIDENTIAL
TO PRIORITY HONG KONG TELNO. 202 OF 20 FEB 1974.
DEATH SENTENCE LIU CHU.
}
(HK)
1. ALTHOUGH WE CAN SEE THE FORCE OF WHAT YOU SAY IN PARAS 4
AND 5 OF YOUR TEL NO. 224 WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO TAKE THE VIEWS OF MINISTERS ON THESE POINTS UNTIL AFTER THE ELECTION. IT WOULD IN ANY CASE BE DIFFICULT TO PREDICT NOW THE POLITICAL CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH DECISIONS WILL HAVE TO BE TAKEN THEREAFTER.
2. WE IMAGINE THAT YOU WOULD WANT TO HAVE SOME IDEA OF THEIR
VIEWS ON ALL THE FACTORS! INVOLVED BEFORE YOU WENT TO EXCO EVEN INFORMALLY. WE FOR OUR, PART WOULD SHARE THE VIEW THAT IT WOULD BE PRUDENT TO BE SURE EXACTLY WHERE EVENTS WERE LEADING US REFORE EXCO
WERE BROUGHT IN.
3. WE THEREFORE THINK THAT IT WOULD BE BETTER NOT TO CONSULT EXCO EVEN INFORMALLY YET. WE AGREE HOWEVER THAT, IF IT WERE POSSIBLE, IT WOULD BE USEFUL TO ESTABLISH WHETHER THE TWO DOCTORS WOULD ACCEPT THAT THERE WERE GROUNDS FOR COMMUTATION ON THE LINES SET OUT IN PARA 3 OF YOUR TEL NO 225. COULD THIS BE DONE BY CONSULTING THEM PRIVATELY AND IN CONFIDENCE OUTSIDE THE
COUNCIL?
DOUGLAS-HOME
FILES HKIOD
SIR D WATSON
MR YOUDE MR RUSHFORD
REF.
NEXT
(40)
now see (D).
CONFIDENTIAL