them that it would be very difficult for him to accept any advice not to commute. He suggested that, if this line could be maintained, and particularly if people in Hong Kong became less worried about the incidence of violent crime, the issue might become less sensitive in Hong Kong and it might then be possible to abolish the death sentence without major public disquiet. (He added that a series of messy murders could, on the contrary, make the issue more sensitive than ever.) It was agreed that, if possible, the status quo should be adhered to.
4. This subject is very likely to crop up when Lord Goronwy- Roberts meets the press in Hong Kong and we have suggested an appropriate line for him to take in the separate brief on press questions.
Hong Kong & Indian Ocean Dept.
6 January 1975
I
CONFIDENTIAL covering DECRET
}