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The
Parliament, and that it was a matter of
conscience for many individuals, and further that many members of Farliament sincerely felt that the death penalty was not an effective deterrent. But even in Britain a majority of people probably still favoured retention of capital punishment. In Hong Kong opinion in favour of retention was virtually unanimous. The Government Authorities in Hong Kong had a responsibility for maintaining law and order. Unless they were allowed to carry out the
death penalty in extremely serious cases the
maintenance of law and order must suffer.
Governor's discretion under the Royal Instructions
had been nullified for reasons of political considerations, and indeed his whole authority
in this matter as well as the authority of the
Courts had been undermined. Hon. Sir Sidney
GORDON emphasised the fact that Hong Kong being located in the Far East the practice pertaining in the region should be followed and not that which is prevailing in the United Kingdom. Hon. Hilton CHEONG-LEEN enquired whether the stand on reintroduction of capital
punishment in the U.K. had recently become more
flexible.
(ii) Lord GORONWY-ROBERTS stated that
in the U.K. the position had not become more flexible. There had recently been a debate in Parliament following the I.R.A. holocaust in Birmingham, and it had been expected that intense pressure would be brought to bear on H.M. Government to restore capital punishment
for certain offences. Surprisingly, however, there was no upsurge of public pressure at all. In the vote on the debate an increased majority
held the view that there should be no change.
/Ile
G.F. 316
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