CRS 115
IMMEDIATE
CYPHER CAT/A
FM HONG KONG 250630Z
ECRET RECEIVED IN REGISTRY No.52
26 MAR1974
64
SECRET
НКК
السلام
TO IMMEDIATE F C O TELEGRAM NUMBER 366 OF 25 MARCH. 1974.
ANSWERS TO P.Q.S ON THE DEATH PENALTY IN HONG KONG.
PKk3/48/10
Sub
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
FILE S
HKIOD
SIR D WATSON
MR WILFORD
MR YOUDE
MR RUSHFORD (LEGAL ADVISERS)
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