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CONFIDENTIAL
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TO PRIORITY HAMILTON TELNO PERSONAL 27 OF 6 SEPTEMBER
YOUR TELEGRAM PERSONAL NO 25
FOR DEPUTY GOVERNOR FROM HKG D
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CAPITAL PUNISHMENT
1, WE CAN CONFIRM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S UNDERSTANDING OF
THE POSITION AS REGARDS TACKLYN'S APPLICATION AS EXPRESSED
IN THE FIRST TWO SENTENCES OF PARAGRAPH 1 OF YOUR TEL UNDER REF,
2. WE NOTE THAT YOU WOULD EXPECT TO HAVE TO FIX AN EXECUTION DATE
WITHOUT FURTHER DELAY IF TACKLYN'S APPLICATION IS REFUSED. BY THAT STAGE, HOWEVER, IT IS AT LEAST POSSIBLE THAT THE INTER- DEPARTMENTAL OFFICIAL COMMITTEE WHICH HAS BEEN SET UP TO ADVISE /
MINISTERS ON FUTURE POLICY WITH REGARD TO CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IN THE DEPENDENT TERRITORIES (MY TELEGRAM PERSONAL NO 76. TO BELMOPAN) MAY HAVE REACHED AGREEMENT ON WHAT COURSE OF ACTION TO RECOMMEND. (IT WILL BE MEETING AGAIN IN THE WEEK BEGINNING 12 SEPTEMBER). IT IS TO BE HOPED THAT MINISTERS WOULD SHORTLY THEREAFTER REACH
DECISIONS. IT WAS, AS YOU KNOW, THE DEATH SENTENCES PASSED ON TACKLYN AND BURROWS AND THE ADVICE ON THEIR CASES SUBSEQUENTLY
GIVEN TO YOU BY YOUR PREROGATIVE OF MERCY COMMITTEE THAT HAS LARGELY PROMPTED THE REVIEW OF POLICY AND THE FACT THAT THE
JUDICIAL COMMITTEE IS EXPECTED TO HEAR TACKLYN'S APPLICATION ON
6 OCTOBER SHOULD ACT AS A FURTHER SPUR TO THE OFFICIAL COMMITTEE'S
WORK. DEPENDING THEREFORE ON THE STATE OF PLAY AT THIS END AFTER
THE JUDICIAL COMMITTEE HAS GIVEN ITS RULING, IT MAY BE THAT WE
WOULD WISH TO ASK YOU TO CONSIDER WHETHER YOU COULD POSTPONE
FIXING A DATE FOR TACKLYN'S EXECUTION. WE IMAGINE THAT THIS MIGHT
BE LESS DIFFICULT TO CONTRIVE IN THE ABSENCE, AS WE ASSUME IS THE
CASE OF STRONG LOCAL PRESSURE IN FAVOUR OF AN EARLY. EXECUTION.
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