CODE 18-77
S$ 10/76
102
CONFIDENTIAL
Reference HKG 38671 нка
Mr Levoir
Rh+ R
CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IN DEPENDENT TERRITORIES
1.
The Governor of Hong Kong telephoned this morning about FCO telegram Personal No. 76 to Belmopan. He said that he would like to consult the members of his Executive Council, before replying. There was normally a meeting of the Executive Council every Tuesday but the next one would not in fact be held until Tuesday, 23 August.
2.
I told the Governor of the timetable to which we were working as regards the preparation of material for the Cabinet Office and said that we would have preferred to hear from him by the beginning of next week. If, however, as he had said, he could let us have a better informed reply to our telegram by waiting a week, I thought that would be acceptable.
The Governor confirmed that this would be the case. The issue which we had raised in our telegram would touch the "consciences" of members of his Executive Council. If he did not bring them into the picture at an early stage, and if we were later to opt for a course of action which was unpalatable to them, there might be a risk of resignations. In view of this additional remark by the Governor, I said that we would quite understand if he did not reply to our telegram until 23 August.
3. At the end of what was a very brief conversation, the Governor said he assumed that he would have a proper opportunity to consult his Executive Council afresh before any decision was taken at this end. I said my understanding was that there would be an opportunity for the Governors of all the territories concerned to consult Ministers/Executive Council/ Members before a final decision was taken.
12 August 1977
D.F. Millon
D F Milton
CC:
Mr Stewart
CONFIDENTIAL
CODE 18 - 77