"2/12/24
PS/Mr Rowlands
HKG 38671
REVEVO BURY NO. 51 1 2DEC 1977
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
REGISTRY
edon Takun
238
ГМ
7/12
No
2/12
Flag A
237
CAPITAL PUNISHMENT: BERMUDA
TELEGRAM FROM THE SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY
1. The attached telegram from the Secretary-General of the Communist Party, Mr Gordon McLennan, urges the Secretary of State
to intervene to stop the Bermuda executions. Under the present policy towards capital punishment in the dependent territories, the Secretary of State can only intervene if he believes that there
has been a miscarriage of justice. This is clearly not the case in
Bermuda.
2. As a result of recent Parliamentary interest, the Secretary of
State has sent the Governor of Bermuda a telegram stressing the
concern of Parliament over the executions and, in his reply, I recommend that the Minister should point out the constitutional
limitations on the Secretary of State, adding that he has, never-
theless sent a telegram to the Governor.
I submit a draft letter.
2 December 1977
CC:
PS
PS/Lord Goronwy-Roberts PS/PUS
Mr Cortazzi
Mr Stratton
WIAD
News Dept
Mr Stephen
1.0. B. Slend
JA B Stewart
Hong Kong & General Dept
339