IMMEDIATE
YPHER/CAT A
GRPS 350
FM FCO 221850Z
• SECRET
RECEIVED IN
REGISTRY N.31
2 APR 1974
NICKCI
j
60
The Cro
порой
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SECRET
TO INMEDIATE HONG KONG TEL NO 304 OF 22 MARCH, 1974.
FOLLOWING PER SONAL FOR GOVERNOR FROM SIR DUNCAN WATSON.
YOUR TELEGRAM NO 342: DEATH PENALTY.
NEXT
5.9
IX
1. THANK YOU FOR THIS NEWS. MAY I SAY HOW MUCH WE ADMIRE YOUR ACHIEVEMENT IN REACHING THIS DELICATE UNDERSTANDING, WHICH REFLECTS GREAT CREDIT ON YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH EXECUTIVE COUNCIL. I AM SURE IT WAS THE WISE COURSE TO LOOK FOR A WAY OF AVOIDING CONFRONTATION.
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2 WE SHALL HAVE TO LET MINISTERS KNOW WHERE WE STAND. THEY ARE AWARE THAT THIS HAS BEEN A MAJOR PROBLEM, AND I THINK WE MAY HAVE TO GO FURTHER THAN PROPOSED IN YOUR PARAGRAPH 10 IF WE ARE TO REASSURE THEM THAT DIFFICULTY WILL BE AVOIDED FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE AND THUS SECURE THE RIGHT LINE IN PUBLIC STATEMENTS (THERE IS BOUND TO BE PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONING). I WOULD WANT TO BE FULLY ON NET WITH YOU ABOUT EXACTLY WHAT WE SAY, THE SAFEST COURSE MIGHT BE FOR ME TO TELL MINISTERS ORALLY AND OFF THE RECORD OF THE UNDERSTANDING YOU HAVE REACHED, MAKING IT CLEAR THERE CAN BE NO PUBLIC REFERENCE. IF HOWEVER YOU SEE DIFFICULTY IN THIS, COULD WE ALTERNATIVELY SAY THAT, WHILE OPINION IN HONG KONG IS MANIFESTLY IN FAVOUR OF RETAINING THE DEATH PENALTY, IT IS COMMON GROUND BETWEEN YOU AND YOUR EXECUTIVE COUNCIL THAT THE PENALTY SHOULD ONLY BE APPLIED IN THE VERY WORST CASES: AND THAT, IN THE LIGHT OF YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE ATTITUDE OF EX CO MEMBERS FROM INFORMAL AND PERSONAL TALKS YOU HAVE HAD WITH THEM, YOU FEEL CONFIDENT WITHIN THE FORSEEABLE FUTURE OF BEING ABLE TO AVOID CONTROVERSY OVER DECISIONS TO REPRIEVE. IF YOU COULD AGREE TO SOMETHING ON THESE LINES, COULD YOU ALSO CONSIDER LETTING ME HAVE IT EITHER IN A PERSONAL TELEGRAM WHICH I COULD SHOW TO MINISTERS UNCONNECTED WITH THIS RECENT EXCHANGE OR (PERHAPS MORE DIFFICULT) IN THE OPEN SERIES. GRATEFUL FOR REPLY BY MONDAY IN CASE MATTER ARISES IN BRIEFING MINISTERS ON POSSIBLE SUPPLEMENTARIES TO SILLARS PQ ON 27 MARCH.
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