Mr Youde
Youde
Sir D Watson-
CONFIDENTIAL
P.A. 42%
36
19
26
A & B
£130
DEATH PENALTY LIU CHU
1. In our telegrams no 106 and 135 and related correspondence
we asked the Governor to consider certain possible mitigating
factors, some put forward by the Home Office and others by
Mr Blaker, which might conceivably enable him to find grounds
for commuting the death sentence on Liu Chu. In his telegram
no 223 the Governor considers these points, and sets out his
reasons for thinking that they do not provide any realistic
grounds for commutation. The department's legal adviser has
commented in his minute of 19 February. In brief, he sees no
reason to dissent from the Governor's conclusions.
We are
however sending copies to the Home Office, just in case they
take any different view.
2. In his telegram no 224, the Governor suggests that we now
consider the following points:-
(A) Does the Judge's recommendation that the law should
take its course stand up under a scrutiny as
sympathetic to the prisoner as reason and the law
permit?
(B) If so
(i) Would the Secretary of State support a decision
to execute Liu?
(ii) If not, and if informal sounding has shown that
the Council is likely to advise that the law
should take its course, would he be prepared
CONFIDENTIAL
/to abolish