GR 850
PRIORITY CYPHER/CAT A
FM HONG KONG 230745Z
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
My bu
14
Wh Cch will Efneval lecting
TO PRIORITY F C O TELNO 848 OF 23 AUGUST.
YOUR TELNO. 6421
DEATH PENALTY.
15
Ways
IT IS THE BELIEF OF THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF THE POPULATION HERE THAT THE APPLICATION OF THE DEATH PENEALTY IS THE MORAL DUTY OF GOVERNMENT AND THAT FAILURE IN RECENT YEARS TO USE IT HAS NOT ONLY BEEN MORALLY WRONG BUT IN PRACTICE IMPOSED AN UNNECESSARY HANDICAP IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CRIME. MEMBERS OF EXECUTIVE COUNCIL PERSONALLY REMAIN DEEPLY TROUBLE IN THE CONSCIENCES ABOUT THE PRESENT SITUATION. THERE WOULD THEREFORE BE A DEEP AND WIDESPREAD REACTION TO ANY NEW AND NEGATIVE MOVE BY HMG IN THIS FIELD.
A SMALL MINORITY WOULD PROBABLY WELCOME ABOLITION EITHER ON NORMAL
ABOLITIONIST GROUNDS, OR BECAUSE IT REMOVED A CONTRADICTION BETWEEN THE DECISIONS OF THE COURTS AND THE ACTION OF THE EXECUTIVE.
2. IT HAS GRADUALLY COME TO BE UNDERSTOOD HERE THAT FAILURE TO USE TO DEATH PENALTY IS NOT THE FAULT OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT. FURTHERMORE THE PEOPLE HAVE BECOME ACCUSTOMED THOUGH NOT RECONCILED TO COMMUTATION IN ALL CASES. THE SUCCESS OF THE POLICE AND GOVERNMENT IN STOPPING THE RISE IN CRIME AND IN BEGINNING TO REDUCE IT HAS SOMEWHAT DETRACTED FROM THE URGENCY OF PEOPLE'S DEMAND THAT THE DEATH PENALTY MUST BE USED TO PROTECT THEM. FOR ALL THESE REASONS THERE IS NO LONGER SO MUCH SURFACE HEAT IN THIS ISSUE, AND COMMUTATIONS ARE NO LONGER REGULARLY CRITICISED IN THE PRESS. HOWEVER THE STRONG CONVICTION IS STILL THEIR UNDERNEATH AND WOULD CERTAINLY BOIL UP TO THE SURFACE IF THE ISSUE
WERE GIVEN RENEWED PUBLICITY BY ANY OF THE INITIATIVES YOU PROPOSE.
IT IS INEVITABLE THAT THE REACTION WOULD TAKE THE EMOTIVE FORM THAT HONG KONG WISHES AND INTERESTS WERE BEING OVERRIDEN BY UK
ATTITUDES AND/OR POLITICAL EXPEDIENCEY.
13. THE WISHES
:
}
·
PONFIDENTIAL