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7. IF A GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG WERE TO BE LEFT TO DECIDE THE QUESTION OF LIFE OR DEATH BY HIMSELF, HE WOULD GIVE DUE WEIGHT TO THE VERY SUBSTANTIAL FORCE OF PUBLIC OPINION ON THE ISSUE. BUT, AS
HONOURABLE MEMBERS ARE AWARE, THIS IS NOT THE POSITION.
8. THE REALITY OF THE MATTER IS THAT IF THE GOVERNOR WERE TO DECIDE AGAIN THAT THE LAW SHOULD TAKE ITS COURSE, THE PRISONER WOULD EXERCISE HIS RIGHT TO PETITION HER MAJESTY. THE QUEEN IN REACHING HER DECISION, WOULD BE OBLIGED TO ACT ON THE ADVICE OF THE APPROPRIATE UNITED KINGDOM MINISTER. THE LATTER, WHEN TENDERING HIS ADVICE, WOULD BE OBLIGED TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT HIS ASSESSMENT OF THE LIKELY REACTION OF PARLIAMENT TO WHICH HE IS
ACCOUNTABLE. RECENT SECRETARIES OF STATE HAVE BEEN OF THE OPINION
THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE SUPPORTED IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS IF THEY
WERE TO RECOMMEND THAT DEATH SENTENCES IN HONG KONG SHOULD BE
CARRIED OUT. THERE ARE NO SIGNS THAT THIS ATTITUDE OF THE HOUSE
OF COMMONS IS LIKELY TO CHANGE IN THE NEAR FUTURE. EVEN THE
TERRORISM AND BLOODSHED OF NORTHERN IRELAND HAS NOT PRODUCED IN
THE U.K. PARLIAMENT A MAJORITY IN FAVOUR OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT.
9. I AM AUTHORISED BY HIS EXCELLENCY TO SAY THAT HE FULLY
RECOGNISES THE FIERCENESS OF CONVICTION WITH WHICH SO MANY RESIDENTS OF HONG KONG HOLD THE VIEW THAT UNLESS THE DEATH PENALTY
IS CARRIED OUT IN APPROPRIATE CASES THE FLOOD OF CRIME AND VIOLENCE WILL NOT BE TURNED BACK.
10. IN RECOGNITION OF THESE FACTORS HE HAS ONCE AGAIN REPRESENTED
TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE IN THE STRONGEST TERMS THE WISH OF
HONG KONG FOR. A RESTORATION OF THE DEATH PENALTY IN THOSE CASES IN WHICH THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE CRIME LEAVE NO REASONABLE
JUSTIFICATION FOR CLEMENCY.
11. HOWEVER. IT IS CONFIRMED THAT THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S
POSITION IS UNCHANGED. THIS LEAVES THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT
WITH THREE CHOICES.
12. FIRSTLY, FOR THE SENTENCE OF DEATH TO CONTINUE TO BE COMMUTED
IN EVERY CASE, AS AT PRESENT, IN THE HOPE THAT THE DEADLOCK WILL BE BROKEN WITH THE PASSAGE OF TIME, BY CIRCUMSTANCES CHANGING IN THE UNITED KINGDOM SO AS TO ENABLE THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO
ADVISE THAT A DEATH SENTENCE SHOULD BE CARRIED OUT.
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/ 13. SECONDLY,