CONFIDENTIAL
Separate copies:
PS/Lord Goronwy-Roberts
PS/Mr Rowlands
PS/PUS
Sir A Duff
Sir I Sinclair
Mr Cortazzi
Mr Stratton
Mr Rushford
Mr Stephen
Mr Duff (WIAD)
Mr Shakespeare (MCD)
News Dept
Mr Murray
CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IN THE DEPENDENT OVERSEAS TERRITORIES (DOTS)
1. On 23 February Cabinet discussed the recommendations of Ministerial Committee GEN 103 on the question of capital punishment in the Dependent Overseas Territories.
2. Ministers recognized that without some change in policy, problems such as those which had arisen in connection. with the recent cases in Bermuda could possibly recur. They concluded, however, that the present political climate made this an inopportune time to try and introduce any changes in the DOTS and Ministers would consider the problem again at an appropriate time. It was agreed that the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary would continue to defend the present position and that the question would be reconsidered at a more appropriate time.
1 March 1978
CC:
Mr Wall (Private Office)
f.@.,B. beaut
JA B Stewart
Hong Kong & General Dept
CONFIDENTIAL